Box Made From 18th-century Sèvres Porcelain And Its Lid, By Isabelle Fustinoni

The base (formerly a saucer), made of hard-paste porcelain from the Sèvres Manufactory, is distinguished by its luminous white background and its ornamental frieze of gilded foliage on the rim, punctuated by a regular pattern of gold dots. The deep central section serves as the box’s inner compartment.

The lid, designed by Isabelle Fustinoni, transforms the utilitarian object into a precious sculpture. Crafted from turned walnut with warm, concentric grain, it takes on a domed shape that evokes both a protective dome and an organic case. Its satin-finished surface reveals the wood’s natural depth. At the top, a sphere formed by a large ivory bead serves as the handle, crowned by a varnished brass element. Surrounding this handle, a constellation of lacquered gold-plated brass beads is delicately inlaid into the wood, creating an effect reminiscent of fine jewelry. The contrast between the warm elegance of walnut, the luster of gilded brass, and the porcelain creates a harmonious tension between the traditional and the contemporary, transforming the piece into a true collector’s item.

Dimensions: Height: 9 cm - Diameter: 12.7 cm,

Markings: For the porcelain: on the reverse, a mark featuring two intertwined “L”s in blue,
For the lid: on the reverse, the signature “FUSTI” for Isabelle Fustinoni (see photos),

Condition: PERFECT CONDITION,

Period: CONTEMPORARY,

Notes: ONE-OF-A-KIND PIECE

The set becomes a unique piece that can be used as:

- Jewelry box,
     - A secret box
- A case for medals or small precious objects,
- A contemporary reliquary,
     - Curiosity cabinet piece,

This transformation gives rise to a transhistorical piece, at once a reinterpretation of antique decorative art and a contemporary sculpture. The object retains the memory of its past function while fully embracing its new identity as a hybrid work of art.

A rare piece, straddling the line between repurposed heritage and contemporary sculptural creation.