Component · Integrated watch and snuff box

Louis XV French Gold Snuff Box and Watch

Partially verified

This Louis XV-period objet d'art comprises a cylindrical 18K yellow gold vessel featuring a snuff compartment and an integrated watch. The exterior is decorated with a hand-engraved pattern. The horological component is attributed to Charles Dutertre, a Parisian clockmaker, while the box is the work of the goldsmith Barnabé Sageret. The piece dates to 1752-1753, evidenced by a French charge mark and date letter. The watch dial is signed by Dutertre, and the case carries a maker's mark. Measuring 1 3/8 inches in height and 2 inches in diameter, the object serves as both a functional timepiece and a container for snuff. The movement is visible within the casing and includes engraved details and the serial number 786. It remains a documented example of combined luxury goldsmithing and clockmaking from mid-18th-century Paris.

Integrated watch mechanism and gold snuff box exterior. — M.S. Rau. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source: rauantiques.com
Category: Component · Integrated watch and snuff box
Maker / attribution: Barnabé Sageret and Charles Dutertre
Reference: Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier: Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date: 1752-3
Source-reported place: France
Source-reported serial: 786

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Construction and Design

The object is a cylindrical vessel constructed from 18K yellow gold. Its exterior surfaces feature a densely applied, hand-engraved geometric pattern. The vessel is divided into two distinct sections, serving a dual purpose: one side functions as a compartment for snuff, while the opposite side houses the integrated watch.

The watch dial, positioned within the cylindrical housing, is finished in white enamel and features black Roman numerals. The hour and minute hands are visible, indicating the passage of time within the constraints of the compact enclosure. The overall dimensions of the piece, measuring 1 3/8 inches in height and 2 inches in diameter, suggest it was intended for handheld use or storage in a waistcoat pocket.

Evidence for this section

“A meticulously hand-engraved pattern envelops the exterior of this remarkably rare Louis XV-period gold snuff and watch box.”
“One end of the cylindrical vessel houses a snuff compartment, while the opposite end opens to reveal an integrated watch”

Movement and Signatures

The horological component is signed by Charles Dutertre, a Parisian clockmaker. The watch movement is visible upon opening the box, revealing a bridge and plates consistent with mid-18th-century French watchmaking. The signature "Charles Dutertre" appears on the dial, and the internal movement plate is also signed. The serial number 786 is present on the movement plate, providing a specific identifier for the watch mechanism.

The goldsmithing work is attributed to Barnabé Sageret. The box carries a maker's mark stamped into the gold, reading "SAGERET À PARIS". This marking verifies the manufacture of the gold vessel within the Parisian context of the period.

Evidence for this section

“Dial inscribed "Charles Dutertre”
“Gold stamped "Sageret À Paris”

Dating and Attribution

The object is dated to the period of 1752-1753 based on official French hallmarks. The box bears a partial French charge mark associated with the years 1750-1756, accompanied by the specific date letter 'M', which corresponds to the years 1752-1753. These marks serve as the primary evidence for the dating of the object, situating it within the reign of Louis XV.

Attributions to Barnabé Sageret and Charles Dutertre are provided by the vendor. Sageret is documented in institutional collections, and Dutertre is identified in the source as a significant clockmaker of the era, whose work was represented in the collections of contemporary aristocrats. These details support the characterization of the object as a product of specialized professional collaboration in 18th-century Paris.

Evidence for this section

“Bears a partial French charge mark of 1750-56 with date letter M for 1752-3”
“Sageret ranks among the most highly regarded makers of luxury gold boxes”
“Dutertre’s horological creations were similarly prized”

Open research questions

What is the specific nature of the movement escapement visible within the casing?
Are there additional hidden hallmarks or marks inside the snuff compartment or under the movement plates?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Louis XV French Gold Snuff Box and Watch
Field	Source-reported value	Source quotation
Maker	Barnabé Sageret and Charles Dutertre	“Barnabé Sageret and Charles Dutertre”
Date	Circa 1752-3	“Circa 1752-3”
Material	18K yellow gold	“crafted in 18K yellow gold”
Dimensions	1 3/8" high x 2" diameter	“1 3/8" high x 2" diameter”
Signature	Sageret À Paris	“Gold stamped "Sageret À Paris”
Markings	Partial French charge mark 1750-56	“Bears a partial French charge mark of 1750-56 with date letter M for 1752-3”

Visible details

Cylindrical vessel with two distinct compartments
Intricately engraved gold surfaces
White enamel dial with Roman numerals
Gilded movement plate with bridge and signature

Research qualifications

The source provides a date range and attributes the object to specific makers, though independent verification of these historical marks is not provided by the current source.
The precise functionality of the internal movement is not verified beyond the photographic evidence of its assembly.

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

جعبه انفیه‌دان و ساعت طلای لویی پانزدهم اثر Barnabé Sageret و Charles Dutertre

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record da03dcfa09

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.