Charles X Style French Ormolu Optic Cut Crystal Box, Signed Lehmann France

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Charles X Style French Ormolu-Mounted Optic Cut Crystal Casket Box, Signed Lehmann France, circa 1900–1920

A fine French crystal and … Read more Charles X Style French Ormolu-Mounted Optic Cut Crystal Casket Box, Signed Lehmann France, circa 1900–1920

A fine French crystal and gilt bronze casket box, square in form, measuring 4" W × 4" D × 3.5" H, in the Charles X revival style. The clear crystal is deeply optic cut with bold faceting, lozenge and star motifs to the sides, and a radiating starburst to the base, creating a brilliant play of light and reflection. The precision and polish of the cuts recall the great French crystal houses such as Baccarat and Saint-Louis.

The mount is finely cast ormolu (gilt bronze), encircling the lid and base in a continuous band of repeating leaf-tip and palmette motifs, retaining traces of its original matte and burnished fire gilding. The box is fitted with a full-length piano hinge, typical of high-quality Parisian work, allowing the lid to open smoothly while preserving the crisp squared form.

Signed on the underside “Lehmann France,” identifying the prestigious Parisian luxury retailer active during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Lehmann specialized in fine crystal, glass, and porcelain, often retailing work produced by Baccarat, Saint-Louis, and Cristallerie de Nancy. This practice was common among elite Parisian maisons such as Escalier de Cristal, where unsigned works from the major factories were sold under exclusive retailer marks.

The style evokes the Charles X period (1820s–1830s), when neoclassical geometry and crisp decorative order were prized, here revived around 1900 for a clientele that valued historicist luxury. Such caskets were typically used as jewel caskets, vanity boxes, or presentation cases.

Provenance & Collecting Note: Lehmann-signed crystal is prized by collectors for its rarity and direct link to the Belle Époque and Art Deco luxury trade. Though often cut by Baccarat or Saint-Louis, the Lehmann signature distinguishes it as retailed through one of Paris’s great decorative arts houses.

Dimensions: 4" W × 4" D × 3.5" H

Condition: Very good antique condition, with light wear to gilding and minute edge flecks consistent with age. Crystal remains brilliantly clear with strong faceting. See less