Ménière, Paul-Nicolas (1775 - 1826)

The archives of the Sèvres factory, where the porcelain plaques were made, reveal that this unique snuffbox was delivered to the king at the end of 1775. Created by Paul-Nicolas Ménière, one of the best goldsmiths specialising in the creation of these small objects, it is representative of the highly luxurious pieces offered as gifts by the king. This rectangular box with cut sides has bust portraits of members of the French royal family: Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette and the direct relatives of Louis XVI, on all of its sides. The sixteen portraits appear in oval medallions encircled with golden threads and surrounded by garlands of multi-coloured flowers.

On the cover are Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette and on the sides, from left to right: Louis XV, the Count and Countess of Artois, Marie Lesczinska, Madame Victoire ? and Madame Sophie ?, the Dauphin, Madame Clotilde and Madame Elisabeth, the Dauphine Marie-Josèphe of Saxony, Madame Adélaïde (?) and Madame Louise, easily recognisable by her religious costume; below are the Count and Countess of Provence.

The fact that all the portraits on this box represent the direct relatives of Louis XVI naturally gives rise to the idea that this box was commissioned to be a royal present. The hallmark of the Maison Commune section of the Revolutionary committee makes it possible to specify the date of the goldsmith's work: July 13, 1776 - August 12, 1777. As Louis XVI had been crowned on June 11, 1775, we can imagine that the object was ordered in connection with this event. The presence of the king's parents, Louis-Ferdinand of France and Marie-Josèphe of Saxony and his ancestors, Louis XV and Marie Leszczynska, all four of whom dead on that date, would suggest that the work is a commemoration of their dynasty.