Fine chocolates box.1850-70, French 2nd Empire, Napoleon III era confectioner's (confiseur) box, petit and elegant, card, paper, embossed foil trim, and metal adornment and tassels in a suede-look latticed box. The etiquette, or confectioner's stamp is still inside the lid on this old one, and wo we know it was Collombat Confiseur, Place BEllecour, 7, LYON, France. Chocolate or cocoa, as a substance and flavor was introduced to Europe in the 1500s, and by the 1700s, was raised to a fine art in France. So much so, in fact, that by mid-1700s, confectioners and chocolatiers were having special boxes made just for the presentation of their concoctions, bonbons, chocolate delicacies. The boxes, which always attract me, range from tiny round ones in card/glass and with recess of seed pearls, earlier 1700s, and got larger as time went on, fancier. We've had some in finest tortoise shell, others with the maker's labels or engraved lock plate still in place - such as Boissier. We've sold some to the Boissier museum in Paris. The idea of these boxes was that it would be a lasting memento, reminder of the event of enjoyment of the chocolates and confections it held when initially sold. Whether as a jewelry box, or a desktop box, the memory of the gift and giver, as well as the expensive confections, it was a memory kept. Often a gift, such a presentation helps us understand how elevated was the experience of early candies, chocolates. Measurements noted on our photos. I've just bought several from an estate, so watch in weeks ahead for the others (sold separately).
Very good to excellent condition throughout on this one, just 3 things I can point to as flaw: hinged part of clasp is missing; there is an old split in the paper/card handle, which has been repaired from backside; the paper hinge has split so the top of the box is loose from the bottom. This is typical. Made of paper, that hinge is the first thing to go. I do repairs to the lost hinge by using very thin silk borderless ribbon, 7mm wide, to replace that paper hinge, which is stronger and will hold up longer, better. I haven't, at listing time, gotten the white or off-white ribbon in, but will in a day or two and will then do that repair and will add a photo. Meanwhile, I did want you to know it will be as it should right away, but that its paper hinge didn't quite last 170-150 years. This one is in exceptionally fine condition, and no breaks anywhere. The interior is the old original paper lace fold-overs, is quite clean and nice. Measurements noted on photos.
