Superb antique French Louis Philippe to Napoleon III Era 14 5/8" jewelry or sewing chest, a gorgeous oversized box with serpentine facade, ebony finish & brass inlays, dore gilt bronze accents and ornate boulle style cartouche with crown topped monogram AND hand painted Tahan style floral miniature painting in the opulently lined interior! We've had this one for a while now and resisted offering it for sale successfully up until now :), really wanting to keep it for ourselves but, alas, we simply can't hoard all of our favorite treasures. No markings to be found though the craftsmanship really does reflect the finer French ebenistes or makers of the time. Specifically, the addition of the hand painted miniature is nearly a Tahan signature though most of the pieces we've offered in the past had the painting mounted in the exterior lid. This one with an ornate boulle style cartouche, an interlaced "MB" monogram with crown hovering over it and meaning that this piece once belonged to royalty. Treat yourself like royalty with this one!
Very good condition, age considered. There are a few things to mention and I'll try to address each issue here but, as always, we ask that you review our enlarged and detailed photos. There are a few sections of the brass inlay missing from the sides and rear corner areas. There are 'nicks' along the front edge as if someone tried to pry the box open and, as evidence of this, the upper lock plate is missing the pins that insert into the lower lock mechanism. Also, the two rear feet appear to have a newer ebony finish and there are a few spots of chipped or missing veneer pieces along the base area. Finally, as you can see in the images, the interior lining is original and complete but does have extensive discoloration on the base portion and some small rips or tattered areas along the sides of the base. We can reline the interior base portion with a cream colored silk if you wish but wanted to leave the original teal moire silk there for now. The lid lining and miniature painting are in great shape, the painting itself is as near pristine as can be with no cracking, no moisture damage or loss of those vivid colors. See pictures for all measurements.
