Nécessaire (one of a pair)

Entrepreneur John Barbot British

Enamel miniature of King George IV painted by Charles Muss

After a portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence British

ca. 1760

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 512

This richly decorated shagreen case protected an extravagant nécessaire in the shape of a miniature cabinet. Scent bottles, an ivory notebook, a patch box, and other toilet implements are stored inside.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

Exhibition History

Title: Nécessaire (one of a pair)
Entrepreneur: John Barbot (British, recorded 1751–65)
Artist: Enamel miniature of King George IV painted by Charles Muss (1779–1824)
Artist: After a portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence (British, Bristol 1769–1830 London)
Date: ca. 1760
Culture: British, London
Medium: Gold, agate, rubies, diamonds, silver, wood carcass, silk velvet, miror glass; enamel miniature; glass, enamel, topaz; movement: gilded brass, steel, enamel face; shagreen on wood with gold piqué ornament and gilt-brass mounts
Dimensions: Overall (confirmed): 9 1/8 × 4 1/2 × 2 1/2 in. (23.2 × 11.4 × 6.4 cm);
Overall (case, confirmed): 11 3/4 × 5 5/8 × 3 5/8 in. (29.8 × 14.3 × 9.2 cm)
Classification: Metalwork-Gold and Platinum
Credit Line: Gift of Admiral F. R. Harris, in memory of his wife, Dena Sperry Haris, 1945
Object Number: 45.164.2a–m
Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

More Artwork

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Nécessaire incorporating a watch (one of a pair), John Barbot British, Gold, agate, rubies, diamonds, silver, wood carcass, silk velvet, mirror glass; glass, enamel, ivory, steel; movement: gilded brass, steel; enamel face, British, London — Nécessaire incorporating a watch (one of a pair)
John Barbot
ca. 1760

Automaton in the form of a chariot pushed by a Chinese attendant and set with a clock, James Cox British, Case: gold with diamonds and paste jewels set in silver, pearls; Dial: white enamel; Movement: partly gilded brass and steel, wheel balance and cock of silver set with paste jewels, British, London — Automaton in the form of a chariot pushed by a Chinese attendant and set with a clock
James Cox
1766

Traveling clock watch with alarm, Thomas Tompion British, Case and dial: silver; Movement: gilded brass, partly blued steel, silver, British, London — Traveling clock watch with alarm
Thomas Tompion
Nathanial Delander I
ca. 1680

Longcase clock with calendar, Joseph Knibb British, Case: walnut and oak veneered with walnut; dial: gilded and silvered brass; movement: brass, steel, British, London — Longcase clock with calendar
Joseph Knibb
ca. 1680–85

Longcase clock with calendrical, lunar, and tidal indications, also known as the Graves Tompion, Thomas Tompion British, Case: oak veneered with walnut, panels of oystershell-cut olive wood; marquetry panels of green-stained bone, ivory, various woods; mounts: gilded brass; dial: gilded and silvered brass; movement: brass, steel, British, London — Longcase clock with calendrical, lunar, and tidal indications, also known as the Graves Tompion
Thomas Tompion
Jasper Braem
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