Description
Fine 19th century French champlevé and onyx jewellery box. The box of rectangular form with four corner pillars, hinged lid and painted panel. The box decorated extensively in multicoloured enamel work together with high quality metalwork. To each side an onyx tablet showing various shades of green with marbled veins. The top of the box fitted with a hand painted plaque depicting an artist and two female figures modelling wearing 18th century style dress surrounded by foliage and flowers signed Carle. To the front of the box a champlevé hinge with embossed registration number to the underside. When opened, the casket displays a reddish-purple velvet interior with etched metal work to the outsides.
Notes | Champlevé – decorative metal and enamelwork formed by hollowing out the metal surface and filling the hollows with multiple coloured enamels to form extensive patterns. Champlevé work is commonly misinterpreted as cloisonne metalwork due to the visual presentation however they are different due to the techniques used. Cloisonne is made with thin strips of worked wired soldered onto the surface then filled with enamel rather than hollowed out. This is commonly seen in oriental antiques, for an example please see here.
Condition | Very Good, some very minor faults to the champlevé.
Measurements | 11cm High x 21cm Wide x 16.8cm Deep (4.33 x 8.27 x 6.61 Inches)
