La Madeleine Scene Antique Paris Souvenir Glass Jewelry Box Casket, C. 1900

Details

Description

A Belle Époque jewel box with a window onto La Madeleine, c. 1900.
A rare and beautifully preserved Belle Époque … Read more A Belle Époque jewel box with a window onto La Madeleine, c. 1900.
A rare and beautifully preserved Belle Époque French glass casket featuring a hand-tinted view of L’Église de la Madeleine, one of Paris’s most iconic neoclassical monuments. Created around 1900, this jewel box combines early Parisian souvenir art with the craftsmanship of a miniature bijoux vitrine.

The lid displays a hand-colored image beneath curved glass, framed by a scalloped brass bezel. iridescent accents adorn the columns and some of the details. The body is constructed of thick beveled glass panels, joined with hand-soldered brass filigree corners and resting on ornate claw-style feet. Inside, the original tufted silk cushion remains intact, a rare survival that adds to its charm.

These boxes were sold in the grand boutiques of Paris’ monuments and during the Expositions Universelles, offering travelers a decorative keepsake of the city they loved. This example captures the sweeping steps of La Madeleine, the surrounding boulevards, and the lively Belle Époque street scene below.

Origin: France
Era: c. 1900
Materials: Beveled glass, printed paper, brass, original silk interior
Condition: Beautiful antique condition with gentle, age-appropriate patina.

A luminous Paris keepsake, perfect on a vanity, bedside table, desk, or as part of a curated architectural or jewelry box collection.

Note:
This piece comes from a thoughtfully curated group of late 19th–early 20th century Paris souvenir boxes celebrating the city’s monuments and Exposition-era imagery at the dawn of the modern age. See less