French Ormolu Cartouche Box Portrait of Marie Antoinette, Paris, Circa 1900

Details

Description

French Ormolu Cartouche Box with Miniature Portrait of Marie Antoinette, Signed, Paris circa 1900

This exquisite French ormolu cartouche-shaped box … Read more French Ormolu Cartouche Box with Miniature Portrait of Marie Antoinette, Signed, Paris circa 1900

This exquisite French ormolu cartouche-shaped box dates to the Belle Époque era, circa 1900, and embodies the opulence and refinement of turn-of-the-century Paris. Atop its intricately engraved ormolu surface is a finely detailed, hand-painted miniature portrait of Queen Marie Antoinette, rendered under glass with remarkable finesse. The portrait, likely depicting the queen in her youth with powdered hair and a garland crown, is artist-signed at lower left, indicating a skilled miniaturist of the period.

The box features sumptuous floral scrollwork in relief across its curvaceous form, echoing neoclassical and Rococo revival tastes popular in decorative arts at the time. The interior is velvet-lined, suggesting it may have originally served as a presentation or vanity box for a lady’s dressing table.

Measuring 3 inches wide, 3 inches deep, and 1.5 inches high, this diminutive masterpiece makes a striking addition to any collection of antique portrait miniatures or 19th-century French objets de vertu. It is in fine antique condition with expected signs of age and use, enhancing its authenticity and charm.

A true collector's piece—both romantic and regal—this Parisian treasure bridges the grandeur of the ancien régime with the nostalgia of Belle Époque elegance. See less