Fine antique French Napoleon III era 5" pocket watch or jewelry casket, an elegant little box with richly burled amboyna veneers top and front, a beveled glass window and unique watch key or stamps drawer in the side! A place for everything, and everything gloriously in its place - and no excess is too much; that seems to have been the rule of the day. And the day was 1840-70s Napoleon III era, France, the birthplace and time for this superb likely pocket watch box, casket. Entirely made in fine old box wood, then veneered in what appears to be burled amboyna! The canted front frames a beveled glass window and opens forward for placement of the watch or whatever you decide. The interior is, unfortunately, missing what would have likely been a wood tray to cradle a pocket watch. The little drawer in the side quite a unique addition, likely to hold the watch key or some other desk top necessity. A fine example of the era, aesthetic, and immense allure these old pieces represent. Wildly popular in France and abroad, these glorious old cabinetry pieces proliferated in Napoleon III era France, and we reap the benefit of their popularity and appeal still today in those that survive. One of two fabulous old pocket watch caskets that we've recently just added so, be sure to browse some while you're with us. Thanks!
While on the subject of fine antique boxes, by the way, I MUST mention to you a fabulous newly published reference book by our friend and customer, Genevieve Cummins of Australia. Over the past several years, Genevieve has been working on a masterpiece of a book, which we've just recently received copies of. It's SUPERB! We're pleased to see our own shop noted in many of the pages, and to revisit so many exceptional antique boxes we've had over the years. Some of you who buy antique boxes from us might well see your own in there, as we did share our images often with Genevieve. Be sure to order it. The title is: "ANTIQUE BOXES, Inside and Out". Hot off the presses, it's got 429 delicious pages of boxes.
Very good condition. Possibly a tiny edge nip or two to the wood. The top panel appears to have been re-glued at some point, pushed toward the rear just a bit so the front can open smoothly. A very slight bend to the lid panel with the glass window, you can see a slight space/gap near the top. As noted, there surely would have been an inner tray to set the watch in, missing now. See pictures for measurements.
