Napoleon III-style Box Made Of Precious Wood Marquetry, Signed By Coignard.

An elegant oval box made of precious wood marquetry, crafted in Paris during the second half of the 19th century.

The lid is entirely veneered with violetwood, arranged in a four-leaf scroll pattern. A central oval panel is framed by a gallery of brass beads. Within it, an elegant scrollwork border in rosewood enlivens the composition and highlights a finely cut and engraved brass cartouche. The cartouche is set against a background of thick mother-of-pearl, with deep iridescent green, bluish, and silvery hues, and bears an engraved monogram in its center, likely that of its first owner. The piece as a whole offers a particularly harmonious contrast between the grain of the violetwood, the warmth of the rosewood, the luster of the brass, and the shifting reflections of the mother-of-pearl.

The band is adorned with trompe-l’œil marquetry of rosewood and violetwood simulating a series of panels with raised moldings. The interplay of the different wood species and the orientation of the veneers create a particularly successful sense of depth. This composition is accentuated by a brass band, while a half-round brass molding elegantly highlights the rim of the lid. The box rests on four small, flattened bronze ball feet.

The interior is entirely veneered with rosewood. The bottom and the underside of the lid feature an elegant curly grain, attesting to the care taken in its craftsmanship, even in parts that are usually hidden when the box is closed.

The box is preserved with its original, fully functional lock, engraved “COIGNARD – RUE CHAPON 22 – A PARIS”, as well as its original steel key with a four-lobed ring.

The signature on this lock provides a valuable clue for dating the piece. In 1863, the Coignard company took over the business of Théodore Année, located at 22 rue Chapon in Paris, a renowned manufacturer of toiletries sets, cases, and luxury leather goods. This inscription thus allows us to date the creation of this case to after that date, in the second half of the 19th century.

The entire piece is in remarkable condition. The marquetry has retained all its vibrancy, the brasswork is in excellent condition, the mother-of-pearl still displays remarkable iridescence, and the lock and its original key function perfectly.

Dimensions:

• Width: 32 cm
• Depth: 20 cm
• Height: 11.5 cm