A gilt-metal-mounted oval snuff box, 19th century. Photo Bonhams

In Meissen style, painted on each side with a chinoiserie scene within a shaped gilt scrollwork cartouche enclosing lustre and embellished with iron-red scrollwork, the cover similarly decorated, the base with a chinoiserie vignette, the inside cover with an elaborate chinoiserie scene, the mounts moulded with floral scrollwork, 7.4cm across, K.P.M. and crossed swords mark in underglaze-blue to base of box interior. Estimate: £1,000 - 2,000, € 1,100 - 2,300, US$ 1,700 - 3,300

Provenance: Alfred Joseph Collection, no. 1312

Literature: Beaucamp-Markowsky 1985, no. 9;
Beaucamp-Markowsky 1988, no. 3

Exhibited:  Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum, 1972-2003;
London, Gilbert Collection, Somerset House, 2003-2008;
Barnard Castle, Co. Durham, The Bowes Museum, 2008-2010

A silver-gilt-mounted oval snuff box, 19th century. Photo Bonhams

Of bombé shape, decorated with cartouches of Böttger lustre surrounded by puce camaieu and iron-red scrollwork enclosing chinoiserie scenes after the Schulz-codex, the base with a large Kakiemon flower spray, 5.4cm wide, crossed swords mark in underglaze-blue to inside base. Estimate: £1,000 - 1,500, € 1,100 - 1,700, US$ 1,700 - 2,500

Provenance:  Alfred Joseph Collection

Literature:  Beaucamp-Markowsky 1985, no. 11;
Beaucamp-Markowsky 1988, no. 4

Exhibited:  Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum, 1972-2003;
London, Gilbert Collection, Somerset House, 2003-2008;
Barnard Castle, Co. Durham, The Bowes Museum, 2008-2010

A gold-mounted triangular snuff box, 19th century. Photo Bonhams

In Meissen style, painted with a continuous chinoiserie scene around the sides depicting Orientals engaged in various amusing pursuits, above an iron-red double-line and a gilt border, the cover and inside cover with similar scenes, the base with a spray of indianische Blumen, the interior gilt, the mount twice struck with 'owl' mark, import mark for gold ware, France, after 1893, 8.9cm across (some wear to interior gilding).. Estimate: £1,000 - 1,500, € 1,100 - 1,700, US$ 1,700 - 2,500

Literature: Beaucamp-Markowsky 1988, no. 10

Exhibited:  Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum, ca. 1988-2003;
London, Gilbert Collection, Somerset House, 2003-2008;
Barnard Castle, Co. Durham, The Bowes Museum, 2008-2010

Bonhams. The Helmut Joseph Collection of Important Snuff Boxes, 5 Jul 2011. London, New Bond Street www.bonhams.com