French Silver-gilt And Mother-of-pearl Jewelry Box, Neo-empire Decor – Circa 1838–1860

French silver-gilt and mother-of-pearl jewelry box, Neo-Empire decor – circa 1838–1860 A superb French jewelry box dating from the period 1838–1860, in a Neo-Empire style inherited from the Romantic taste. The structure is made of partially gilded solid silver (vermeil), with an old patina now attenuated by time. All sides, including the inside of the lid, are covered with thin plates of cut mother-of-pearl, perfectly set in a frame with a chiseled decoration of scrolls and flowers. The relief decoration, applied to the walls, illustrates an iconography inspired by Roman antiquity: horse-drawn chariots, amphorae, busts of helmeted goddesses, medallion profiles, winged angels, putti and mythological scenes. This decorative vocabulary, typical of the Empire style, is here reworked in a more ornamental language, in keeping with the taste of the 1840s to 1860s. The lid and back are openworked with medallions revealing the profiles of goddesses, adding an airy and precious dimension to the whole. The interior is lined with a golden yellow fabric with a shell motif, probably from a later period but well preserved. This box is distinguished by the remarkable condition of its mother-of-pearl plaques – a particularly fragile element – and by the finesse of its goldsmithing. Note: the vermeil shows normal, even wear, which gives the piece its historic patina. Characteristics: Period: between 1838 and 1860 Origin: France Materials: solid silver vermeil (old patina), cut mother-of-pearl, wood, later interior textile Techniques: setting, applied reliefs, openwork Decoration: antique iconography (Roman chariots, busts, amphorae, muses, putti, garlands, profiles of goddesses) Dimensions: 18 cm (length) x 10 cm (height) x 9.5 cm (width) Gross weight: 516 g Condition: very good general condition; wear of the vermeil; mother-of-pearl well preserved on all sides; interior sheathing in good condition