Small Round Box

in varnished with a red guilloché background decorated with cordelières and small flowers alternating with rings in a centered pattern.
The lid is adorned with an oval miniature under glass depicting a vase garnished with flowers, probably made using the paperolle technique, on a burgau (mother-of-pearl) background.
Brown and red tortoiseshell lining (crack / ink mark / trace of sealing wax).
Mounting in pomponne decorated with gorges, rows of pearls and guilloche.
Parisian work of the 18th century, Louis XVI period.
Ø: 6.2 cm / height: 2.3 cm [miniature, length: 3.9 cm / width: 3.3 cm]
(minor wear to mount / small varnish chips under mount / in very good used condition nonetheless)

Very fine work of tabletwork combining various "mechanical" and artistic techniques... including that of the vernisseur.

Parisian tabletiers * originally made "tables à escrire" (tablets).
It was because their numbers dwindled significantly when the trade and use of paper became increasingly important that they joined forces, in 1507, with the "peigniers, tourneurs et tailleurs d'images d'yvoire", to form a single guild.
According to the ordinance that renewed their statutes in 1741, the community included the "Maîtres et Marchands Peigniers-Tablettiers-Tourneurs-Mouleurs-Picqueurs-Faiseurs et Compositeurs de bois d'éventails-Marquetteurs-Tailleurs d'images d'yvoire et Enjoliveurs de leurs ouvrages", as well as several other skills not listed here.
They were authorized to "manufacture and sell, to the exclusion of all others" all kinds of objects, games, boxes, etc.
This is why today we refer to a multitude of objects or works combining different techniques, such as this charming little box, as tabletterie or travail de tabletier.
(Havard, volume IV)