Bronze Sealing Wax Seal With The Buste Of Marie Antoinette - France - 19th Century

An elegant bronze wax seal of French origin, dating from the 19th century (Napoleon III period). The handle is richly decorated with floral motifs in relief and surmounted by a neoclassical-inspired female bust representing Marie Antoinette. The fine modeling, the quality of the casting, and the antique patina attest to a luxury desk item, typical of 19th-century French decorative arts. The base features a rectangular striking plate, intended to receive a personalized engraving (monogram or coat of arms), which is now missing or worn away. Both a utilitarian and decorative object, this seal illustrates the 19th-century taste for historical figures and the aesthetics of the Ancien Régime.