Gentleman in Uniform, French Portrait Miniature Snuff Box, 18k c. 1750-70 Louis XV-XVI
Looks to be a military uniform, some braid on the red collar of the navy blue jacket. From the powdered wig era in style, putting his painting c.1750-70s, during reign of Louis XV to XVI and quite likely a noble in the era of The French Revolution. The painting is in gouache on thin ivory wafer, protected under original glass (one flashing chip - look for 'x') and mounted in 18k gold faced mat, set into the rare old ivory snuff box lid, or patch box lid. Signed by artist, "Desiny" and then what looks like either "pixil" or maybe a Roman numeral. The box is ivory with trim in tortoiseshell. Box is 2 3/8" diameter and 1 tall, closed. Portrait is 1 3/4" x 1 1/2" oval portrait. Very good to excellent condition for age and type. Over 250 years old, it remains remarkably unscathed. Four edge bands of tortoise shell are intact, 1 shrinkage opening on top and a little bit of bug nips on bottom trim. Likewise the ivory box has 1 shrinkage crack, just at the side of lid. A couple scratch lin