Bonbonniere

About this artwork

The art of painting on enamel flourished in England during the second half of the eighteenth century. A French jeweler, Jean Toutin, had developed a new technique for painting on enamel, in which a gold base was covered first with white enamel, then painted with a design. This craft soon spread to England, where it was adopted by jewelers and goldsmiths. Their intricately painted boxes and curios were fashionable with the wealthy, who often bought them as souvenirs from their travels. Popular it...

Art Historical Context

Step into the elegant world of 18th luxury with this exquisite *Bonbonniere*, a small decorative box crafted between 1750 and 1800. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum, this gem from the Decorative Arts collection was a gift from John Gellatly. Bonbonnieres like this one were designed to hold sweets, delighting the senses as much as the palate, and were prized by the wealthy elite as fashionable souvenirs from grand tours across Europe. The artistry shines through its enamel painting technique, pioneered by French jeweler Jean Toutin and enthusiastically adopted in England during th...

About the Artist

Unidentified ( ) · –