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Lot 225:
A French Palais Royal Style Gilt-Metal and Tortoiseshell-Effect Carriage-Form Jewellery Casket
Description
A decorative French Palais Royal style jewellery casket or miniature vitrine, designed in the whimsical form of a horse-drawn carriage. The piece features an ornate ormolu-finished brass frame embellished with intricate wirework, pierced decorative wheels, and cast foliate and floral motifs. The body is inset with tortoiseshell-effect panels, while the hinged lid contains a thick bevelled glass panel. The interior is divided into two compartments, each lined with padded yellow silk or satin. The entire structure is supported by four elegant scrolled legs. This style of metalware was highly sought after in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a luxury dressing table accessory. No maker’s marks or hallmarks are visible. Measurements and weight are unavailable.
Condition report:
The piece is presented in good antique condition. The metalwork exhibits a natural age-related patina with minor areas of tarnishing and surface wear to the gilding consistent with age. The bevelled glass is intact, though it currently bears a small white adhesive label on the exterior. The interior silk lining shows light signs of age and minor discolouration but remains structurally sound. The hinge is in working order.
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