A rectangular hinged gold box, partly sablé, the lid chased with two putti holding coronet over a medallion of Frederick Prince of Wales, facing right, set on a pedestal, in an arcaded caprice. The front of the box has an applied and chased Prince of Wales' feathers. The sides and reverse decorated with military trophies, cornucopia and wheat sheaves with rocaille scrolls overall.

The centre of the lid is chased with an oval medallion of Frederick, Prince of Wales, below a coronet held by putti. When exhibited by the London goldsmiths Hunt & Roskell at the South Kensington Museum in 1862, this medallion was mistakenly identified as George III, the son of Frederick, Prince of Wales. However, Frederick's identity is confirmed by the Prince of Wales's feathers and motto chased on the front panel; and stylistically the box pre-dates George III's creation as Prince of Wales, following his father's death in 1751.

This box incorporates both a small profile portrait of Frederick, Prince of Wales, and his applied heraldic badge as the thumbpiece. This commemorative iconography on the lid suggests that the box was a presentation piece. The architectural arcading and use of different textures of gold mirror the design of contemporary French boxes, and this example is the most francophilic of those associated with Frederick.

The Prince of Wales's accounts include payments for boxes supplied by Jasper Cunst (active 1725-76). In 1734, for example, Frederick purchased ‘a gold snuff box with diamonds and rubies on a bloodstone’ from Cunst for £46. Augustin Heckel (c.1690-1770), one of the leading gold chasers working in London, appears to have designed and chased gold boxes supplied by Cunst. Similarities between this box and one signed by both Cunst and Heckel (private collection) have led to the suggestion that this box is also Heckel’s work.

Text adapted from The First Georgians; Art and Monarchy 1714 - 1760, London, 2014.

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The First Georgians: Art and Monarchy 1714-1760: The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace

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