These are truly works of art! Kiln-fired enamel, painstakingly worked as muddy mauves to blues as glaze slip, impossible to know what color they will be when the kiln's heat melts the powders into a glassine porcelain-like layer. This art is incredibly difficult, and apprentices will work many years before being capable of panels like these 5, dainty florals, shaded and elegant. I know this because I have tried this art. You must know and remember where every dab and stroke of the various slip goes, and an error in memory or stroke can ruin an entire panel. The dip convex plaques you see are copper, and are each worked separately, then installed into the bronze or dore alloy, lined in silk, and many of the finest were offered through TAHAN - some holding onto their stickers or with lock plate engraved as such. Two colonies of enamelist artisans were at work in France through the 1800s, creating these, the styles identifiable with experience. This one is a Bress enamelist community casket. The Bresse, France artisans created raised dots, foiled and a more patterned decorative product, referred to as "Bressan". Others we have are from the Sevres enamelists. Look for those, too, sold separately.
This one is superb, very good to excellent condition throughout, and only a nod to the fact that its original silk lining has at some point been replaced. It's an unusual form, though. Both top and bottom halves were formed copper plaques, of course, but unlike most, the bottom included the entire lower half, bottom and all. Most are open barrels, card and silk lined bottoms. Also, the lid has that raised oval, quite regal really, and would have posed a challenge, both, to enamel skills. The box's measurements are noted on the photos.
