Snuff Box (Tabatière)

In 18th-century France ornately enameled boxes that held snuff—powdered tobacco—became a popular accessory in the French court. This object’s rectangular shape differs from early work attributed to Jean Ducrollay. Though the light colors, floral borders, and depictions of lively outdoor recreation are representative of earlier rococo imagery, the rectangular shape and simple frieze make it a primary example of rising neoclassicism.