A stunning and rare 13" gaming box or chest, coffret, the interior fitted with lift-out compartments for gaming or gambling chips and playing cards. The gambling boxes were a fixture in most elegant homes, brought out for evening entertainment, and in mid-1800s, the French ebenistes or cabinetry makers created such masterpieces as you see here, both functional and decorative. Even among those, this one is special. The workmanship is remarkable, and is in a tight parquet of ebony veneer, inlaid with the most delicate marquetry of ivory. The interior is elegant, as well, and certainly shows the pride these artisans had in their boxes and work. One from my collections, these made in this manner are rare to find, and I've had only about 5 by this maker in this manner through the decades. Lots of photos to show you the intricacies of the work, the fine quality of the hardware. This one retains the maker's engraved lock plate, but at some time it was locked without access to key, and had to be sawn open (the pins need to be replaced as you can see) and so you can barely see DEIHL to the left, but can clearly see their address in PARIS. Full measurements noted on the photos.
Very good to excellent for age and type, this chest is remarkable for the type of woodwork in the veneer. Prone to slight lifts or even losses due to the small size of the pieces, I will say there are slightest lift on some visible with a sidelong light, though not looking from any natural position of view. Slight discoloration to the ivory flower basket at the top of the elaborately cut marquetry of the large cartouche. No lifts to the balance of all that ivory. As noted, the pin for the lock needs to be replaced, in order to lock the box, though we have matched the key to the lock. Top quality piano hinge and side-braced lid which holds the lid upright when open.
IMPORTANT NOTE regarding antique tortoise shell or ivory: We are great supporters of protection for endangered species in our modern world. We never buy or sell anything 100 years or newer; we donate to anti-poaching organizations; we don't hunt; we conserve in ways that impact global warming (we're totally solar at home), knowing those measures also protect the animals in the wild today. We also recognize the vast cultural history we preserve with our care and reverence for these antique objects, and agree with CITES that objects over 100 years of age have nothing whatsoever to do with species depletion in our current world.
Our offering exceeds the age limitation of "more than 100 years of age", and is well within the exemption for CITES regulation. If imported, met the CITES regulation. This item will be handled and shipped from our Utah business, and is not available for shipment internationally, nor within the USA to California, NY, Nevada, Hawaii, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington if it contains ivory, sorry. Please see our small print for more details.
