Will the Choiseul Snuffbox Soon Join the Collections of the Louvre?

Despite already having over 600 snuffboxes in its collections, the Louvre has launched its 13 th major "Tous mécènes!" (“Become a Patron!”) fundraising campaign to acquire another. The Rothschild family, which has owned the Choiseul snuffbox since the 19 th century, is selling it to the museum for the astronomical sum of €3.9 M. The masterpiece is as famous as its appearances in public are rare. Everyone knows it exists, but few have had the chance to actually see it. Now it is on display in the Sully Wing until the appeal for donations ends on February 28. By then, the museum hopes to raise €1.2 M from the general public. Les Amis du Louvre (Friends of the Louvre) have pledged €500,000; major donors and corporations have been asked for the rest. The Choiseul snuffbox is not only a work of stunning craftsmanship, but also bears witness to France’s history and contribution to the arts. Showcasing the wealth and power of Louis XV’s most powerful minister on the eve of his spectacular fall from grace, it also has a particular emotional dimension. The king's goldsmith Louis Roucel, who was admitted to the guild as a master…