Gold snuffbox with an allegorical scene from the 19th century

A rectangular snuffbox in yellow gold, guilloché and chased with friezes and ornamental motifs, the lid centred on a cartouche representing a mythological scene in low relief, depicting a winged figure draped in antique style filling his cup with water rising from a fountain surmounted by the winged horse Pegasse. At his feet a bust and art utensils. Foreign work, first half of the 19th century.

In ancient Greek, the name Pegasus means ‘of the spring’ or ‘the gushing spring’. Mythology tells us that Pegasus causes a spring to gush forth on Mount Helicon, where the Muses, protective divinities of the arts and sciences, gather. From the 15th century onwards, and especially in the 19th century, Pegasus became the symbol of poetry. In this role, the winged horse is the poet's ally, his wings symbolising the call of inspiration, the need to soar into the celestial solitudes, the leaping of the soul as thought tears it from the ground. The theme of this box seems to incorporate all these elements.
Lettre: MM ( goldsmith master) and 18 K.
Mark: owl head.
Dim: W 2.67 in / D 1.85 in / H 0.55 in