French Baccarat Crystal Patch Box with Sulfide Cameo of Psyche, 1840-1860

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French Baccarat Crystal Patch Box with Sulfide Cameo of Psyche
France, circa 1840–1860
Dimensions: 1.75" diameter × 0.75" high

A … Read more French Baccarat Crystal Patch Box with Sulfide Cameo of Psyche
France, circa 1840–1860
Dimensions: 1.75" diameter × 0.75" high

A rare mid-19th-century French crystal patch or trinket box, attributed to Baccarat, featuring a finely detailed sulfide cameo of Psyche set into the lid. The white ceramic medallion depicts Psyche, draped in classical robes and shown seated with delicate butterfly wings, emblematic of the soul in Greco-Roman mythology. Rendered with neoclassical refinement, the cameo appears suspended within the glass, a hallmark of the sulfide inclusion technique perfected in France during the early 19th century.

The circular body of the box is cut with a diamond-patterned faceting, giving it a jewel-like brilliance, while the mount and hinge are framed in gilt metal. This combination of faceted crystal, neoclassical imagery, and precious metal fittings reflects the luxurious personal accessories of the Romantic era. Originally designed to hold fashionable beauty patches, boxes of this type were later used for small trinkets, pills, or keepsakes, and were prized as tokens of elegance and refinement.

Sulfide boxes were produced by the celebrated French glassworks Baccarat and Saint-Louis, as well as a few English firms, but the fine cutting and balance of this example strongly align it with Baccarat production. See less