Viscera Or Food Chest In Marble And Gilt Bronze - Napoleon III Period

A beautiful and elegant box in veined white marble and gilt bronze, made during the Second Empire (Napoleon III era), of fine quality, characteristic of the decorative taste and refinement of furniture making in the second half of the 19th century. Rectangular in shape, this box rests on gilt bronze claw feet and features applied ornamentation composed of foliate drops and finely chiseled motifs, elegantly highlighting the purity of the marble. The lid, also in marble, integrates harmoniously with the whole and retains all the architectural simplicity typical of pieces from this period. The interior, compartmentalized and fitted with removable marble elements, allows for two distinct uses, both consistent with 19th-century practices. It could have been either a chest for rare foodstuffs, intended to store precious items such as tea, sugar, or other fine foodstuffs, or a chest for viscera, a more discreet type but one found in some bourgeois homes. This dual hypothesis enriches the historical and functional interest of the object. The chest is in good overall condition, with some chips and wear to the marble, visible but not serious, perfectly consistent with its age and use, and detracting neither from its appearance nor its overall elegance. Generously sized—35 cm long, 25 cm wide, and 25 cm high—this chest makes a strong decorative statement. It is a refined and decorative piece, ideal for a console table, display case, or cabinet of curiosities, and a fine example of Napoleon III's taste for combining marble and gilt bronze.