Rosewood Wedding Box With Engraved Copper, Pewter And Ivory Marquetry – 19th Century

Rosewood wedding casket with engraved copper, pewter, and ivory marquetry – Napoleon III period. A sumptuous and large wedding casket, dating from the second half of the 19th century, it embodies all the refinement of luxury cabinetmaking under the Second Empire. Crafted from rosewood veneer with deep, regular grain, it is adorned with rich copper, pewter, and ivory marquetry, finely engraved with a burin, demonstrating exceptional craftsmanship. The lid is centered with a cartouche bearing the initials "FB," in a Rocaille decoration composed of leafy scrolls, floral garlands, tassels, and doves. The main motif shows two doves facing each other above a nest of fledglings, a clear symbol of marital union, fidelity, and the founding of a home. This type of emotional decoration, very popular in the second half of the 19th century, indicates that this box was intended to be given on the occasion of a wedding. The interior, entirely veneered in rosewood, contains a large main compartment as well as a drop-down flap concealing three solid rosewood drawers. Please note: this is not a writing box, as it has no inclined plane, no compartments for inkwells, nor a writing tablet. It is a wedding or presentation box, intended to hold correspondence, jewelry or personal mementos. The whole reflects the work of a Parisian workshop of excellence, without compromising on the quality of materials or finishes. The original key is present and the lock works perfectly. Condition: excellent general condition; restored varnish, complete marquetry, original key present, functional lock Dimensions: • Width: 59 cm • Depth: 40 cm • Height: 21 cm