I'm always on the lookout for wonderful old sets of French watercolorist's bricks and painter's boxes. This one is loaded with rather unique facet-rounded large color bricks and a lot of the flat ones, too. And the old box is a real beauty with dovetailed corners and a fine finish. Even a cartouche up top which could be monogrammed. It is faux ivorie, not the real thing. The box dates latest 1800s, I'd say, to as late as perhaps 1920. I'm not positive the color bricks are original, but the upper 2 rows of rounded ones fit perfectly. Usually a case will have fittings for a ceramic water and mixing pot, but this one is just as you see it. A superb supply of fine antique watercolor (aquarelle) there, AND a great box.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type. Most of the color bricks appear to have never been used at all. Some of the rectangular more usual bricks, the same, but a few are older and broken. The box is excellent in all ways. No warp, pushbutton closure and hinges are perfect, the finish is gorgeous and the quality is high. No chips, cracks, issues with this lovely box. A fine set. Measurements noted on images.
