Roucel, Louis (1756 - 1787)

Louis Roucel, received as a master by privilege in 1763, was one of the king's goldsmiths, who lived in the goldsmith's quarter on Place Dauphine. He worked for the Menus Plaisirs section of the royal household, notably for the occasion of the wedding of the Dauphin, future Louis XVI, and Marie-Antoinette in 1770. His punches, next to the date punches 1777-1778, appear on this snuff box with its chiselled decoration and high-quality enamel. It is oval-shaped, made from gold and decorated with lines of half-pearls in opaque white enamel and undulating garlands of tiny green leaves with flowers with a mix of red and blue petals. The miniature painted on enamel on the cover is a reminder of the harbour views fashionable in the late 18^th century. It represents a "Scene from the bank of a port or a river" with four characters reminiscent of those imagined by Claude-Joseph Vernet and his followers. The snuffbox, an everyday object, was gradually becoming a luxury item and a witness to its owner’s social position. This meant that taking tobacco was almost relegated to the background, as what was all-important was to show off one’s snuffbox in society. The snuffbox was therefore more popular for its container than its content and was often offered to close friends and family. This delicately refined present could also be decorated with the portrait of the generous donor. Monarchs made great use of it in the 18th century.