Gold Boxes at County Museum

Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert’s entire collection of gold boxes is on view at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art through March 8. Said to be the largest and best holding of its kind, the 148-piece collection exemplifies European extravagance of the late 17th to early 19th centuries. Craftsmen lavished time and technical expertise on these small containers, often embellishing them with precious stones, mosaic or enamel. Some boxes were made to hold snuff; others functioned as status symbols or diplomatic gifts. They are documented by an illustrated catalogue with essays on the production and history of gold boxes by Charles Truman. The Gilberts, who live in Los Angeles and are longtime supporters of the museum, have promised to give the collection to LACMA.