MINT ANTIQUE EXQUISITE SMALL PALAIS ROYAL JEWEL BOX PARIS, FRANCE/c.187O #2 of 2

Description: MINT ANTIQUE EXQUISITE SMALL PALAIS ROYAL JEWEL BOX PARIS, FRANCE/c.187O #2 of 2 MINT ANTIQUE EXQUISITE SMALL PALAIS ROYAL JEWEL BOX PARIS, FRANCE / CIRCA 187O / #2 OF2 French Master Artisan and Craftsman Alphonse Tahan (b.1830-d.1880) was the official Master cabinet maker to Emperor Napoleon III and his wife, the Empress Eugénie who was known for her beauty and impeccable taste. She enjoyed the reputation as a trend setter who favored the workshop Tahan Fabricant that was located at 30 Rue de La Paix from 1849 and subsequently from 1878 at Boulevard of the Italians. Tahan exhibited at The London Crystal Palace Exhibition in 1851 and the Universal Paris Exposition in 1855 and was awarded medals on both occasions. The firm not only produced furniture, but also small Objects D’ Art such as fine bronze jewelry caskets and beautiful wooden boxes. Tahan’s son, Jean-Pierre-Alexandre Tahan continued the legacy of his father, and his business in Paris was celebrated for its imaginative, exhibition-quality work that exhibits superb artisanship and is in high demand by connoisseur collectors. This piece is Tre’s Magnifique! During the 18th and 19th centuries European aristocrats, Nobility and wealthy intellectual Patrons embarked on a transformative rite of passage called the Grand Tour that allowed them to explore the rich history, art, culture, and architecture of Europe that broadened their horizons, shaped cultural tastes, and left a lasting legacy in European society. Travelers typically embarked on a circuit through major European cities such as Paris, Rome, Venice, Florence, and Athens. The Palais Royal was not only the historical and cultural center of Paris, but also housed high end boutiques within the Palais Royal where visitors could find unique, exquisite, and luxurious items that served as treasured mementos of their travels. Today, these 18th-century Neoclassical and Victorian-era opulent objects of vertu antique pieces by renowned craftsmen and designers are highly sought after and cherished. These antique treasures from the Palais Royal and the Grand Tour era evoke a timeless sense of bygone nostalgia, luxury, and elegance for discerning collectors. The top of this jewel box is 4 1/2" x 2 7/8”, the base 5 1/8” x 3 /8” and is 2 3/4" tall. Weight is 12.1 ounces or 344 grams. Mint condition, Circa 1870. This is an exquisite Antique Victorian period French Palais Royal Jewelry Box by the Iconic firm Tahan. The ornate cast bronze decorative acanthus scroll feet frame is mercury gold gilded in the traditional method for creating true ormolu (fire-gilding) that applied a finely ground high carat gold coating mixed with mercury to the bronze frame. The mercury is then evaporated in a kiln, leaving a lustrous gold coating. Mercury is highly toxic and was banned in France in 1830 due to the debilitating effects and very short lifespan of craftsmen applying mercury-gilding (also known as fire-gilding). However, some Artisans such as Tahan continued to use ormolu (also known as Dore’) bronze mounts through the late 1800s as it adds opulence and elegance to various decorative objects that infuses them with a golden allure that cannot be duplicated. Note the gilding on the frame has desirable bright gold gilded original untouched condition. There is a small lip for easy opening and a small, curved spring that engages with the top inside rim of the base and secures the top tightly with a pronounced snap. The cast bronze top outside rim is embellished on 4 sides with bottom borders of stylized shaped gilded cast bronze rope patterns with top and inside decorative patterns. This casket style jewel box has 5 yellow ornately embellished enamel porcelain panels in the bombe` (curved and bulging) shape are set into the bronze gold gilded frame. The panels are ornately hand decorated by Master Craftsmen with fancy red pinstripe borders, painted gold, black, red, green, and white leaf, scroll and abstract panels with a variety of styles and techniques. and dozens of tiny porcelain white and light blue jewels. The top yellow porcelain bombe’ center panel has large delicate stylized ornate center patterns in dark burgundy lattice work with dozens of leaf and scroll patterns. The center of this large panel contains a black star with 2 gold borders, outside triangle shapes with 8 tiny red porcelain dots and minuscule white borders. The inside of the star has 6 white jewels and 1 turquoise jewel with tiny gold borders. The pattern then radiates outward with red pinstriping with leaves, and 8 flower patterns, each with 6 white jewels and 1 turquoise jewel with tiny gold borders, en suite. The vertical top and bottom center panels red leaf and scroll patterns, each have 6 small white porcelain dots with leaves. The horizontal left and right panels each have two gold, black, red and white stylized bumble bees on a black background denoting the Napoleon Bee Symbol and Royal Warrant of Tahan to the court of Emperor Napoleon III and his wife, the Empress Eugénie, and 2 additional bumble bees feeding on a flower at both ends. These right and left panels also have red/gold scrolls with 3 black dots and small guilloche green enamel bee with gold wings. The 4 top corner panels are red pinstriping with gold scroll patterns and black dots. The outside 4-sided borders have a triple round stylized borders with dots with an inside alternating border of turquoise jewels with minuscule gold dot borders and dark blue porcelain dots. The front and back yellow porcelain bombe’ panels have a black stripe rectangular border with gold borders, two center tiny red jewels with gold dot borders and 4 corners with small red pinstriped, gold patterns with tiny gold and red guilloche bumble bees, en suite. The center of this large panel contains a black star with 2 gold borders, outside triangle shapes with 4 tiny red porcelain jewels with minuscule gold dot borders. The inside of the star has 6 white jewels and 1 turquoise jewel with tiny gold borders. The pattern then radiates outward with red pinstriping with leaves, and 4 arrow shaped patterns, each with a black dot and red and white jewels with tiny gold borders, en suite. The center red pinstriped panels have 4 decorative patterns of 6 small turquoise jewels with white porcelain dots with gold borders. The horizontal left and right panels each have red pinstriping with gold leaves, two black dots, 2 clusters of 3 white jewels, and black, gold and green guilloche` bumble bees, en suite. The smaller two-end yellow bombe’ porcelain panels have very similar and nearly identical embellishments and patterns of the front and back panels, en suite, but in a smaller format and much more difficult to execute; yet having extremely fine attention to detail. The bottom and sides interior is the original beige silk lining with a rope border. The top interior is also the original beige silk lining, en suite, with a fancy stylized silk border cord. The non display underneath of the jewel box has the outline of the original thin blue silk over cardboard bottom, with much of the delicate silk lost from handling. However, the important original Maker mark tag, “TAHAN, Fe De Le EMPEREUR”, for the Emperor. The gold gilding overall has a wonderful, naturally occurring aged luster. There is a small 3/4“patch of wear to the top edge front left corner of the gold gilding from handling. Overall, in original, untouched, mint, exceptional connoisseur collector condition inside and out, with no damage, repairs, alterations, cracks or chips. In the sunlight, this piece really lights up and shows all of the exquisite attention to detail, Artisanship and Craftsmanship. PAYMENT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PAYPAL & ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER, e-CHECKS & ALL MAJOR CREDIT & DEBIT CARDS, APPLE PAY, GOOGLE PAY AND ALL OTHER PAYMENT METHODS APROVED BUY EBAY. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SHIPPING ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FREE SHIPPING & HANDLING FOR DOMESTIC BUYERS & TO THE EBAY U.S.A. INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING CENTER. FOR USA PURCHASES, SHIPPING, HANDLING & DELIVERY IS FREE VIA U.S.P.S. 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Price: 895 USD

Location: Fairfield, California

End Time: 2025-01-09T23:10:50.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD