While this certainly has the look of 1750s Vernis Martin on ivory, it is not an ivory box, and is a later c.1850-90s revival of the Romanticism movement, and done in the same Vernis Martin manner. Thinner and lighter than a box which might be 'real' from a century earlier, most styles of decoration seem to have a revival about 100 years after initial popularity. So this might be enjoyed as the antique it truly is, but even though it looks for all the world like something from the Louis XVI and Marie-Antionette era, it is in fact a century later, c.1850-80s, Napoleon III era. Yes, I did hot needle test to confirm, but actually the weight of it was its giveaway. The early 'faux' or French ivories even grained like real ivory, and many mistake it for the older real thing. Still, such a beauty, and a fine collection piece. Fans of this same era, and other types of decorative arts are still antique and still beautiful to mix with your c.1700s Vernis Martin snuff boxes and fans. Larger than one would expect of a c.1700s box, too, this one is 5" x 3 1/2" and is 2" tall when closed.
Very good condition for age and type, no chips, cracks, breaks, warping and it closes and opens smoothly with lift-off fitted lid. Beautifully hand painted with a c.1750s French Romanticism themed outdoor courting scene, someone has roughly cleaned or rubbed it at some point and removed some of the paint on lid, mostly trees. Could certainly be restored by an artist with careful attention to the detail of trees. All of the garlands and the rest of the paintings are excellent.
