Hard-paste Porcelain Box "a La Reine" With A Risqué Miniature On Ivory, Late 18th Century

Made of hard-paste porcelain from the "A la Reine" factory on Rue Thiroux in Paris, this is a charming 18th-century box in every aspects. It is painted with garlands of cornflowers and roses, a decorative signature of the factory, which can also be found on the rim and the slightly convex ring-shaped lid. At its center, set within a bronze frame under glass, is a miniature painted on ivory depicting a risqué pastoral scene. The very spirit of the 18th century is captured in this painting, where a couple in love, lying in a field, are surprised in their intimacy by a young man. The interior is lined with original, woven silk from the period. The porcelain factory was established under the direction of André Marie Leboeuf around 1775, and thanks to his creations, he captivated the aristocracy, including Queen Marie Antoinette, who became the factory's patron and authorized the use of a large "A" (for Antoinette) surmounted by a royal crown, a signature you will find on the bottom of this box.

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