A highly decorative French jewellery casket dating from the late 19th century. The rectangular tomb-form box is made from silvered copper and stands on four small bun feet.
Each surface is richly decorated in relief with scenes inspired by Jean de La Fontaine’s animal fables, including Le Loup et l’Agneau and Le Renard et la Cigogne. The narrative panels are surrounded by architectural borders, scrolling foliage, animal masks and classical ornament. Likely Napoleon III-period dating from around 1870–1880.
The hinged lid opens to reveal its original padded interior, lined in wonderfully faded purple and pink silk. The combination of literary subject matter, detailed metalwork and timeworn fabric gives the piece a particularly atmospheric appearance.
There is extensive age-related wear throughout, including loss of the original silvered finish revealing the warm copper beneath, tarnishing, scratches, small knocks and wear to the silk lining. The bun feet have become somewhat bent and sit a little squint.
Measures approximately 10 cm wide × 7.5 cm deep × 7.5 cm tall / 3.9 × 3 × 3 inches.
Each surface is richly decorated in relief with scenes inspired by Jean de La Fontaine’s animal fables, including Le Loup et l’Agneau and Le Renard et la Cigogne. The narrative panels are surrounded by architectural borders, scrolling foliage, animal masks and classical ornament. Likely Napoleon III-period dating from around 1870–1880.
The hinged lid opens to reveal its original padded interior, lined in wonderfully faded purple and pink silk. The combination of literary subject matter, detailed metalwork and timeworn fabric gives the piece a particularly atmospheric appearance.
There is extensive age-related wear throughout, including loss of the original silvered finish revealing the warm copper beneath, tarnishing, scratches, small knocks and wear to the silk lining. The bun feet have become somewhat bent and sit a little squint.
Measures approximately 10 cm wide × 7.5 cm deep × 7.5 cm tall / 3.9 × 3 × 3 inches.