Gold Boxes and Vertu from the Estate of a Prominent Kansas City Collector

Though the term “objet de vertu” generally excludes items with practical function, artistic objects that are intended to exist primarily as show pieces are sometimes classified this way, as with the pieces in the Gold Boxes and Vertu auction available from Hindman. One example of such items is a cartouche-shaped box with a lid containing numerous European and rose-cut diamonds in various shapes. The gems are mounted in silver-topped gold and fixed on carved bloodstone with a yellow gold hinged lid. Though the box has obvious function, it exists primarily for the beauty of its own design. 

Other items in the sale include a Cartier Art Deco diamond and platinum-mounted enamel compact, an Art Deco diamond-mounted gold and enamel cigarette case, a German gold and enamel bonbonniere, and more. Beyond containers and boxes there are several personal seals, such as a French gold, ruby and amethyst mounted agate hand-seal; a golden combination snuff box, scent flask, and hand-seal; and a Russian silver gilt and guilloche enamel-mounted rhodonite cigar holder. View any of these lots and register to bid on Hindman.