19th Century Edmé Samson Paris Porcelain Armorial Trinket Box — Chinese Export Style

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A rare and beautifully enameled 19th-century trinket box by Samson, Paris, produced during the period of Edmé Samson (1810–1891) — … Read more A rare and beautifully enameled 19th-century trinket box by Samson, Paris, produced during the period of Edmé Samson (1810–1891) — founder of the celebrated Parisian firm known for its exceptional reproductions of 18th-century Chinese and European porcelain.

This rectangular porcelain box features a finely hand-painted armorial crest, flanked by a lion and bird and crowned with a gilt coronet. The decoration, rendered in vivid cobalt, red, and gold, is set against a clean white ground with floral sprays and scrolling motifs extending to the sides. The box is mounted in its original gilt metal setting with hinged lid and clasp closure.

The underside bears a characteristic pseudo-Chinese armorial mark, a hallmark of Samson’s mid-to-late 19th-century production.
• Maker: Samson, Paris
• Date: Circa 1850–1890 (Edmé Samson period)
• Material: Hand-painted porcelain with gilt metal mount
• Style: Chinese export and European armorial revival
• Mark: Pseudo-Chinese armorial mark to base
• Condition: Good antique condition; light wear to gilding and metal consistent with age. Slight wear to hinge, with disconnect on right side, and a crack on lid that appears to have been repaired.

Boxes of this kind were produced by Samson et Cie for an elite clientele of European collectors seeking to replace or expand their collections of 18th-century Chinese export porcelain. Today, Samson pieces from the Edmé period are prized for their artistry, craftsmanship, and historical context — offering a bridge between the collecting traditions of the 18th and 19th centuries. See less