A late-18th century gold and enamel-mounted amethyst etui,

A late-18th century gold and enamel-mounted amethyst etui,
apparently unmarked, circa 1780,
modelled as a baby in swaddling clothes, the body applied with two diamond-set bows, the hinged cover carved as the head and set with diamond eyes, the vari-coloured gold mounts with borders with foliate scroll decoration, the enamel band with 'gage d'amour et felicité', length 11.5cm.

Provenance: A Private Collection.
Purchased at Christie's New York, Important Silver and Objects of Vertu, 18 October 1995, lot 168.