Souvenir
Unknown Artist
1779–80
Medium
Gold, enamel, diamonds, ivory
Dimensions
3 1/8 x 1 7/8 in. (7.9 x 4.8cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Gold and Platinum
Culture
French, Paris
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number
17.190.1344a–c
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative collection, *Souvenir* is a example of late 18th-century French metalwork from Paris, crafted around 1779–80 by an unknown artist. Measuring just 3 1/8 x 1 7/8 inches, this petite treasure is fashioned from gold, enamel, diamonds, and ivorymaterials that scream opulence in the pre-Revolutionary era. Its classification as goldwork highlights the era's mastery of intricate jewelry boxes or etuis, often used as intimate gifts or keepsakes, evoking the title's nod to cherished memories. Created during Louis XVI's reign,...