China Straits, early 18^th century, probably circa 1700-1720. The two main sides of this pomander are cast with a large formal flower head, while the four swelling compass points are chased with smaller floral sprays, all enclosed within lobed panels. One side features a hinge, allowing the domed cover to open for discreet access to the interior. The cover remains hermetically sealed to this day. Suspended from a large loop, the box was designed to be worn as a pendant.

Provenance: The private collection of Jules Speelman, London, United Kingdom. With a label inscribed ‘Gold. 18^th. Straits’. Bonhams Hong Kong, The Speelman Collection of Chinese ‘Imperial Tribute’ Snuff Boxes, 24 November 2013, lot 5, estimate HKD 95,000 or approx. EUR 15,500 (converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). Jules Speelman, a world-renowned dealer and collector of East Asian art, has over 60 years of experience. He joined his late father, Alfred, in 1964, continuing a family business that dates back three generations to 19th-century Holland and later expanded to England. Originally dealing in European antiques, A & J Speelman gradually shifted its focus to Asian art, particularly figurative sculpture and works of art from the past 2,000 years. Under Jules Speelman’s direction, the firm is now among the foremost in the field. In 2024, the 28-lot sale of the Jules Speelman Collection at Bonhams totaled €15.2 million, far exceeding its €4.2 million estimate. Asaph Hyman, Global Head of Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art at Bonhams, praised Speelman as “one of the greatest and most respected dealers and collectors,” renowned for his keen eye for rarity and quality.
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, traces of use, manufacturing irregularities, little tarnish, few light dents, and microscopic nicks to edges of the mouth and cover.

Weight: 18.6 g
Dimensions: Size 5 x 2.8 x 2.3 cm (incl. ring handle)

With an associated padded wood storage box. (2)

This unusual receptacle reflects an earlier period of necessary accessories carried by a gentleman in 17th century Europe. Any history of snuff boxes, which discusses the snuff designed to give pleasure to the user, should really begin with the earlier use of sophisticated gold and silver pomanders, scent-balls, musk-balls or 'boites de senteurs', as small personal boxes containing sweet-smelling perfumes were called in the 17th and 18th century. They were just as essential in 17th century refined social life as snuff boxes became in 18th century Europe. Sweets and other small things to eat (like aniseed) would be carried in 'drapoirs', sweetmeat or 'comfit' boxes.

Chinese court officials were fascinated by Western accessories, and thus a small number of snuff and perfume boxes were created in China during the earlier 18th century to amuse top-level court officials. The main manufacturing center was Canton, where expert craftsmen attempted to do complete copies of the few European boxes brought by foreign merchants, to make elaborate and beautiful 'Imperial Tributes' as gifts to senior Beijing court members. The boxes they managed to create are entirely Chinese confections in a completely foreign taste. They combine the superb Chinese craftsmanship with an exotic foreign object, thus falling within the remarkable tradition of Chinese artisans commissioned by rich Chinese patrons to create amusing and often unfamiliar Western-style shapes that have no origin in the Chinese traditional decorative arts. Such boxes are extremely rare and often surpass their European originals in quality.

Literature comparison:
Compare a related Indonesian gold case for a J. Tarts watch, dated c. 1750-1800, 6.5 cm diameter, in the Rijksmuseum, object number BK-NM-12831. Compare a 16^th-century German silver-gilt pomander, 5.7 x 2.9 cm, in the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, accession number 1967-48-72.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s London, 25 October 2016, lot 509
Price: GBP 8,750 or approx. EUR 15,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A China Straits gold betel nut box, probably Indonesian or Malay, 19th century
Expert remark: Compare the related lobed form and chased decoration. Note the size (10.2 cm) and later dating.