Well Carved French Oak Coffret Jewel Box, Circa 1890

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A well-carved French oak coffret jewelry box, dating to circa 1890. Rich carvings abound, highlighted by the lid, which is … Read more A well-carved French oak coffret jewelry box, dating to circa 1890. Rich carvings abound, highlighted by the lid, which is topped by a grouping of two animals surrounded by a shaped console with lozenge ground filled with roundels. Lifting the top reveals two tiers of storage, each lined with red silk: a single compartment beneath the removable upper level with five sections for storing jewelry and small valuables. The interior wood is paler than the sculptured exterior, providing a beautiful juxtaposition. Virtually every inch of the exterior is carved, adorned with leafy tendrils on the lid, foliate scroll pilasters on the sides, and small pad feet. Every side of the curvaceous coffret features a cartouche of a mascaron within a scalloped ruff set between two beaded moldings. Although the sides are serpentine, there are incised corners with barbs that give the coffret a truly unique form. The small size of the coffret allows it to be used where space is at a premium, functioning as storage for jewelry or decoratively as a well-carved table box. See less