A documentary Fürstenberg portrait snuff box

A documentary Fürstenberg portrait snuff box,

c.1770, of bombé shape, the inside cover painted perhaps by Johann Andreas Oest with a half-portrait of Marie Sophie Wilhemine von Württemberg-Oels, seated on a red velvet chair with a gilt crown mount, wearing a purple dress trimmed with lace, and the Order of Württemberg-Oels, a small cat seated on her lap, the shaped sides and base with purpurmalerei decoration of landscape vignettes, the cover with the monogrammed initials MS within a crowned oval cartouche, gilt metal mounts, 8.2cm across.

Paper label for the Joseph Collection.

Marie-Sophie Wilhelmine von Württemberg-Oels (1721-93), born Countess of Solms-Laubach, married in 1741 Karl Christian Erdmann, Duke of Württemberg-Oels and Bernstadt (1716-92).

Exhibited:

Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum, 1972-2003;

London, Gilbert Collection, Somerset House, 2003-2008;

Barnard Castle, Co. Durham, The Bowes Museum, 2008-2010