The oval carved and pressed straight-sided box having a silver-mounted pull off cover,

clearly marked OBrisset, with date 1727,

depicting the new King George II (1727-1760) on horseback

with GR 2 beneath the Royal Coronet on the horse hindquarter saddle blankets,

viewing his fleet depicted below, above the molded inscription : OBrisset Londini Fecit,

inscribed around the upper border : GEORGIUS II DG. M. BR. FR. ET HIB. REX FD;

the lid interior scratched in script by 19^th century owner :

Josu? Garnier, Jersaie, Iles de la Manche, Octobre 1869**

Ref : This box is somewhat rare.

An earlier “rare” box attributed to Samuel Lambelet, c.1717, similarly depicts Peter the Great

on horseback and reviewing his fleet, made in commemoration of the foundation of the Russian navy.

This box was pictured in Phillips, P.A.S. : John Obrisset No. 69; and Hardwick, P. : Discovering Horn, pp. 9. An Obrisset tortoiseshell version of Peter the Great was exhibited 1998, National Maritime Museum, London, “Peter the Great in England”, and is in the collection of the British Museum. 

(see images below)

Condition : Minor abrasion to the cover; the silver mount with minor losses visible in image; a small vertical crack to the base side with an old brad reinforcement from the interior; the fleet and inscription above rubbed from normal usage, as is the edge inscription at the top; central details quite sharp and clean. 

4” Long x 3-1/8” Wide x 3/4” High

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 #6618

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 **The Channel Islands (?les d'la Manche, ?les Anglo-Normandes or ?les de la Manche) are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Jersey and the Bailiwick of Guernsey. They are considered the remnants of the Duchy of Normandy, and are not part of the United Kingdom.

Base Exterior

Base Interior

Peter the Great Carved Horn Plaque, Reviewing the Fleet, Lambelet (left and below)

Peter the Great Tortoiseshell in Gilt Frame with Loop, Obrisset :

British Museum Museum no.  1889,0706.14

An oval equestrian portrait of Peter the Great in armour and laureate, holding sword; fleet in distance; pierced at top for suspension (left and below"); and an Obrisset tortoiseshell example on the right.

Note the similarity of the Peter the Great viewing his fleet above plaque, but with head looking forward.

On our presented George II version, George II looks over his shoulder; the inscriptions below being the same.

The above Peter the Great plaques Exhibited:

1998 Apr 2-Sep 27, London, National Maritime Museum, 'Peter the Great in England'

(Image courtesy of The British Museum files)

Samuel Lambelet Version, 1717, Peter the Great

"A rare George I oval horn box and cover, impressed with the figure of Peter the Great in armour, on horseback with the fleet in the background, signed "SL. FC" for Samuel Lambelet c.1717, 4 in. long.

Provenance Ex Louis Casimir Collection, Dukes of Dorchester 1991.

Literature Phillips, P.A.S: John Obrisset No69 and Hardwick, P: Discovering horn pp97"