"Eglomise" is the term applied to the back-painted glass panels in these old French souvenirs. Most of them date 1800s, though they were made up through about 1910 in this manner, too. Later ones often have a photo set in instead. The early ones are our favorites, sometimes a screened ink-line like drawing that is then hand colored, or sometimes a full miniature painting original, all worked on the back side of a panel or convex plaque of glass. There are sometimes open spots left and a final step is application of thin mother of pearl panels so that the windows shimmer with pearlescent light, or architectural details are pearl - you can see how fun those are. I'm listing a whole collection from this genre, one at a time, so will just give the barest detail of each as we move through the collection.
This one is rather interesting - a view of what is surely the Rue du Caire from the 1889 Paris World Exposition, inscribed Kairo just above the structure. The Rue du Caire was a portion of the expo built to add a world flair, giving the viewer the feeling of being in Cairo. Just down the south end of the Eiffel Tower on the Champs de Mars, the building you see was constructed as a rendition of a temple in Ahmedabad. It's in fine condition with just a few small dark marks to the colorful painted scene. Unique for sure!
Very good to excellent condition for age and type. There are no chips to the thick beveled glass panels and the pressed brass framework is in very good condition, as well, age and type considered (and clasp is holding tight). This one is 2 7/8" square and 2 5/8" tall when closed in display. It has however lost most of the inner silk or satin lining, only threads remain that are held by the small framework tabs. A charming box!
