Antique French Neoclassical Ormolu Box With Dancing Muse & Floral Tapestry Lining, Belle Époque, Circa 1900

Details

Description

A jewel in itself. French ormolu box with original silk tapestry interior.

This exquisite 19th-century French ormolu trinket box is … Read more A jewel in itself. French ormolu box with original silk tapestry interior.

This exquisite 19th-century French ormolu trinket box is a miniature triumph of neoclassical design. The lid features a dancing muse, light, graceful, and alive in gilt relief, framed against a deep black ground that reads like polished basalt. Beneath it, the sides are cast with classical motifs and ribboned ornament, a hallmark of fine Parisian metalwork.

Open the lid and more magic appears:
the original French woven fabric lining, an early tapestry-style textile in cream, rose, and soft green. It’s rare to find these interiors intact, much less this beautiful, with floral garlands and meandering ribbons that feel straight out of a boudoir at the end of the 1800s.

Details
• French, late 19th century
• Ormolu (gilt bronze) with black ground insert
• Original floral woven interior
• Hinged lid in perfect working order
• Dimensions approx. 2” × 2.5” D × 1” H
• Excellent antique condition with gentle age to the gilt finish

A luxurious accent for a vanity, desk, or vitrines, and a collector’s dream for one who loves French ormolu, Napoleon III decorative arts or historical jewelry boxes with original textiles. See less