A silver snuffbox | Christie's

A silver snuffbox

细节

A silver snuffbox
with separate hinged lids for the movement and snuff compartments, of reeded rectangular form with convex sides and gilt interior, the single-air movement with two-tooth right-hand bass sectional comb, small four-wing air-brake and lever-wound right-hand mainspring on horizontal arbor -- 3½ x 1 7/8 in. (9 x 4.6 cm.), French, 1808-1819

拍品专文

This movement appears to anticipate by several decades the typical lever-wound cartel movements of the late 19th century. The stop/start arrangement is also distinctive, with a sliding detent engaging a notched wheel at the right-hand end of the cylinder, supporting a long sprag which catches the air-brake at the left-hand end. The comb is of remarkably crude construction.