Turtle Shell And Ivory Box Featuring An Erotic Scene. Europe.

A rare 19th-century cabinet set, crafted from genuine tortoiseshell and richly decorated with applied ivory marquetry forming elegant floral arabesques. The rectangular body is topped by a hinged lid featuring a watercolor miniature on ivory at its center, framed by a gilded brass mount.

The composition depicts a refined genre scene with subtle erotic undertones, characteristic of 19th-century European salon art. A young woman, her breast partially exposed, has set aside her book and is absorbed in contemplating the miniature portrait of her beloved, which she holds delicately in her hand. Behind her armchair stands a watchful nun who observes her intently through a magnifying glass, lending the scene a subtle irony and a theatrical dimension. This type of allegorical subject—contrasting sensuality, romantic longing, and moral rigor—was highly popular among collectors during the Historicism period.

The miniature bears a signature, likely “Bauman” or “Baumann.”

Markings: Signed, likely “Bauman” or “Baumann,” on the miniature. Further research is needed to attribute this signature.

Dimensions: Length: 12 cm. Width: 8 cm. Height: 6.5 cm.

Condition: Good condition, consistent with its age. Slight signs of age and wear.

Provenance: Private collection.

ID-ANTQ-4067