FREDERICK THE GREAT’S SNUFFBOX 151
F
rederick II “the Great” of Prussia
(r.1740–86) loved snuffboxes,
and his collection supposedly
included one for each day of the
year. He was also known for his liking of
the green gemstone chrysoprase, and
he commissioned eight
snuffboxes made from the
mineral. London-trained
designer Jean Guillaume
George Kruger is thought to
have made this example in
around 1765, and Frederick
later presented it to his
brother Augustus Wilhelm,
Prince of Prussia, as a gift.
The oval box and its cover are
both made from single pieces of
chrysoprase, a green variety of chalcedony
(see pp.146–49). Diamonds and other
gems are mounted on varicoloured gold
in the forms of scrolls, vines, and sprays
of flowers; and pale pink, green, and
lemon-yellow foil has been placed behind
the diamonds to tint them subtly. Theinterior of the lid is bordered by gold and
engraved with more flowers and scrolls.
Frederick was renowned for his military
achievements, but also for his patronage
of the arts. He was fond of fine materials,
and among these he so favoured
chrysoprase that towards
the end of his life he had
pieces of chrysoprase
set out for him to look at
alongside his boxes and
jewels. His interest in elegant
boxes was influenced by his
mother Sophia-Dorothea’s
collection, and he kept a
snuffbox on his person at
all times. This proved fortuitous in 1759 at
the Battle of Kunersdorf during the Seven
Years’ War, when he was hit by a Russian
bullet – it was deflected by the snuffbox in
his pocket, saving his life.Key dates
1712–1786
170017501755176017801770Frederick’s brother,
Augustus WilhelmFrederick the Great’s snuffbox
Fredrick the Great of Prussia pictured at the Battle of
Kunersdorf in 1759, where his snuffbox deflected a Russian
bullet, and so saved his lifeJewelled mother-of-pearl
snuffbox, commissioned
by Frederick the Great△ Detail showing tinted diamonds in varicoloured gold settingHis approach
to aesthetic
quality...
was robust
Tim Blanning
Author, on Frederick the Great1712 Frederick II is born1759 During the Battle of
Kunersdorf in the Seven
Years’ War, a snuffbox in
Frederick’s pocket saves
him from a Russian bullet1753 Jean Guillaume
George Kruger, a London-
trained designer, moves
to Berlin and designs a
series of snuffboxes for the
Prussian royal collection1756 Frederick enters the
Seven Years’ War, which
involves most of the world’s
major powers of the period1740 Frederick II takes
the throne and conquers
Silesia (now mostly in
Poland), where chrysoprase
is mined, in the First
Silesian Warc.1765 The chrysoprase
snuffbox is created,
probably by Kruger;
Frederick presents it to his
brother, Augustus Wilhelm1763 The Seven Years’
War ends, leaving Prussia
a major power1786 Frederick
the Great dies151
150-151_STO_Chrysoprase_Snuff_Box_Final.indd 151 18/05/2016 11:00