Zwei Ellwanger Emaildosen – Email-Tabatière um 1770,
vom Haus- und Dosenmaler Johann Andreas Bechdolff in Ellwangen
mit Jagd und Architekturmotiven bemalt.

A rare Ellwangen gilt-metal-mounted snuff box with hunting scenes circa 1770 elaborately painted by Johann Andreas Bechdolff. The inside and all outsides with various hunting scenes depicting wild boar, hound, deer and hunter.

These jewel-like objects are immensely tactile and were considered the pinnacle of refined 18th-century court culture and presented as luxurious gifts.

A rare Ellwangen gilt-metal-mounted snuff box of the same period of late 18th century ca. 1770 elaborately painted by melting and porcelain painter Johann Andreas Bechdolff (1734 – 1807) . The rectangular enamel box is decorated throughout with landscape scenes of castles

Historical background of Johann Andreas Bechdolff

The miniature enamel painter Johann Andreas Bechdolff worked from 1758 to the end of 1761 in the Prahlsche Porzellanfabrik in Ellwangen. On 16.12. 1761 he was recruited to lead the Faience Manufactury in Schrezheimer by Bux, the owner. Bechdolff promised to reveal the arcanum of the porcelain production. But already 2 years later he left the Schrezheim manufactory and started his own business in Ellwangen in 1764 as an enamel and snuff box painter. A so called “Hausmaler”.
Both of the presented snuff boxes date of that time as a free business man

Der Miniaturmaler Johann Andreas Bechdolff arbeitete von 1758 bis Ende 1761 in der Prahlschen Porzellanfabrik in Ellwangen. Am 16.12. 1761 ließ er sich von Bux, dem Inhaber der Schrezheimer Fayencemanufaktur abwerben. Bechdolff verpflichtete sich hierbei das Arkanum der Porzellanherstellung preiszugeben. Bereits nach 2 Jahren verließ er die Schrezheimer Manufaktur und machte sich im Jahre 1764 in Ellwangen als Schmelz- und Dosenmaler selbständig.

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