Antique Round Box Tortoiseshell And Gold Louis XVI Miniature Portrait Dam Following Dumont 18th

Beautiful old box from the 18th century, in tortoiseshell and gold, the lid decorated with a miniature. On the lid is inserted a painting from the Louis XVI period, representing the delicate portrait of a young woman turned to the right, bust.

Her hairstyle, characteristic of the 1780s, is raised and lightly powdered, adorned with curly locks framing the face and a carefully controlled volume on the top of the skull. This representation corresponds perfectly to the aesthetic canons of French high society on the eve of the Revolution. The miniature, of a very careful execution, evokes the work of the miniature painters of the French school of the end of the 18th century.

It can be compared, by its softness of modeling and the precision in the rendering of the skin tones, to certain listed portraits of François Dumont or Augustin. This box had a function of precious case: it could be used to store fine tobacco, jewelry or sentimental souvenirs. Miniature portraits mounted in this type of box were very often intimate gifts or tokens of affection, intended to be carried on oneself. Finely ridged and circled with 18th century hallmarked gold, attesting that it is a precious work, it is probably missing the original lower circle. Also note the absence of protective glass, the miniature in good condition. Dimensions: approximately 7.5 cm in diameter by 2.5 cm in height, small lack of material visible on the box see photos