WHAT: A three-compartment snuff box, circa 1800, with concealed automaton and a timepiece, sold for $62,500 at Heritage Auctions in New York recently. Attributed to watchmakers Piguet & Capt, the rectangular box measures just over 3 inches by about 1.4 inches. Despite the mini-size, the enameled box features movement. When the lid is lifted, multicolor gold figures in the left compartment move and a windmill rotates. At the right, there is a timepiece that flips forward.
MORE: Hand-painted enamels in vibrant colors show floral vases at the tops of the side panels, a central scene with a boy fishing accompanied by several young women, baskets with flowers and leaves on the corners, and decorative paneling plus borders.
SMART COLLECTORS KNOW: Snuff boxes are popular with collectors because they can be found in wide variety and are easy to display. Those made of precious metals, of unusual materials, or with gems are small works of art. And they are priced accordingly.
HOT TIP: The box was included in a $1.3 million sale of watches and fine timepieces. Though its primary function is not for marking time, it is an automaton with a timepiece. Watch fanciers do love gears, cogs, widgets and things with moving parts.
BOTTOM LINE: In every way — prestige maker, age, aesthetics, workmanship, complexity of features, rarity and desirability — this snuff box is a 10.
