Large Rosewood And Palisander Box, Signed “th. Année – Rue Chapon 18 – Paris”

A large, luxurious box, inlaid with rosewood (Dalbergia decipularis) and palisander, signed by the Parisian manufacturer Théodore Année, active on Rue Chapon in the mid-19th century. Exterior veneers: rosewood and palisander. The box is veneered with rosewood cut with the grain running vertically, a prized Brazilian exotic wood valued for its orange-yellow heartwood veined with red. The sides and back are veneered simply, with the grain running horizontally, allowing the natural grain to remain visible. The front and lid feature large four-leaf cartouches in an open pattern (or X/fern motif), revealing the luminous richness of the rosewood. These cartouches are framed by dark palisander cut on the flat, with broad, warm waves. Decoration and marquetry à la Reine: Simulated keyhole escutcheon in cut and fluted brass. The lid's perimeter frame in guilloché solid wood, reminiscent of Renaissance Dutch frames surrounding a gilt-bronze molding, features alternating egg-and-dart motifs and finials. Large central rocaille cartouche in cut brass, with a coat of arms engraved with the initials AD on a marquetry background: brass crossbars, red-tinted tortoiseshell ground, scattered mother-of-pearl flowers, a rich decoration inspired by the 18th century. Interior in wavy Japanese ash (tamo), stained. The interior is veneered with sumptuous wavy Japanese ash (Fraxinus mandshurica, known as tamo), prized for its tight grain and natural moiré effect, similar to silks. An aesthetic and symbolic choice. This veneer, stained to harmonize the whole, is particularly appropriate in a box intended to hold fabrics, shawls, or precious textiles, as its moiré pattern directly evokes the draping of the fabrics. The box opens with: a large top lid, a drop-front, and reveals: a spacious upper compartment, two interior drawers veneered with the same wavy ash. Signature and documentation: The lock bears the engraving: "Th. Année – 18 rue Chapon – Paris." According to Théodore Année Ledoux-Lebard: exhibiting from 1844 (bronze medal), he was renowned for the elegance and variety of his boxes, took over the Chabert firm on rue Chapon in 1856, and sold his business in 1863. The signature allows us to date this box between 1856 and 1863. Typology: In 19th-century catalogs, this type of box appears under several names: large wedding box, shawl box, large writing box, drop-front box. This diversity reflects its versatility: jewelry, correspondence, precious textiles, documents, or keepsakes. Dimensions: Width: 59 cm, Depth: 39 cm, Height: 22 cm