Details
Description
A jewel from the dawn of the electric age, this diminutive round gilded box was created as a luxury souvenir …
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A jewel from the dawn of the electric age, this diminutive round gilded box was created as a luxury souvenir for the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1900—the World’s Fair that introduced millions to the enchantment of electric light.
Across its domed lid, beneath curved glass, is a vivid hand-painted miniature of the Palais de l’Électricité, the Exposition’s most dazzling marvel. When this pavilion debuted, Parisians gasped: its façade was illuminated by 5,000 incandescent bulbs, fountains shimmered with colored light, and night itself seemed newly invented. Owning this box was like taking home a piece of the future.
The body is richly embossed with tiny fleurs-de-lis and starry rosettes, a tactile golden surface reminiscent of French royal objects. Inside, a mirrored lid and original gilded interior remain intact—once meant for pocket-sized treasures, today perfect for rings, pills, or a single special piece of jewelry.
Details & Notes
• French, 1900 – Exposition Universelle (Palais de l’Électricité)
• Hand-painted reverse-glass miniature under curved crystal
• Gilded brass with raised fleur-de-lis motif
• Original mirror inside lid
• Measures approx. 1.75” across (see photos)
• Wear consistent with age, including patina and surface marks, as expected for 124 years
This is a rare, museum-worthy piece of Parisian history — the kind of little object that turns a vanity, desk, or vitrine into a story. A treasure for collectors of Palais-Royal boxes, World’s Fair memorabilia, or anyone in love with Belle Époque Paris.
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- Dimensions
- 1.5ʺW × 1.5ʺD × 0.75ʺH
- Styles
- Belle Epoque
- Period
- Early 21st Century
- Country of Origin
- France
- Item Type
- Vintage, Antique or Pre-owned
- Materials
- Mirrored Glass
- Condition
- Good Condition, Original Condition Unaltered, Some Imperfections
- Color
- Brass
- Condition Notes
- Excellent condition with minor wear commensurate with age Excellent condition with minor wear commensurate with age less
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Return Policy - All sales are final 48 hours after delivery, unless otherwise specified in the description of the product.
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