Box, book and case — Neuber, Johann Christian — 1785-90

Circular gold box, set with 77 numbered specimens of stone, identified in a book inside the box, and flowers carved in hardstone, within a frame of simulated pearls of reverse-painted rock crystal pearls. Joanna Whalley, FGA, head of Metals Conservation at the V&A, has contributed the following note: 'Inlaid with varieties of jasper, agate, silicified and fossilised wood as well as amethyst. The transparent and translucent specimens are backed with paint in the colours cream, green, black and purple. The pearl simulants are made from rock crystal carved with a hollow on the underside which has been coated with a silver precipitate. The flowers in relief are made from reverse-painted and carved rock crystal, carnelian, bloodstone, moss agate, white banded agate and turquoise.' Booklet with cover of card covered in pink silk. Four sheets of paper, folded to make eight pages sewn at the folding line in the centre. The title page is inscribed in black ink in French as below. The reverse of the title page is blank. On the six pages which follow is a numbered list, 1 to 77, identifying the specimen stones mounted in the box.