Don't mistake the form based on photos. It is an oval cylinder, stunning semi-opaque old French opaline in my favorite - blue. Wanting you to see the eglomise (back-painted glass) souvenir view of Ecole Militaire, Napoleon's Army's parade grounds, viewed from today's Champ du Mar. Facing what became the 1889 Paris Expo grounds, and from a viewpoint just about halfway to the Eiffel Tower, this charming casket would date well before the Tower was constructed. Cross-ribbon edging and dore bronze framework is brilliant gold in color, setting off both the blue opaline and the eglomise cartouche up top, don't you agree? Large at 5" x nearly 4" oval, it would have been someone's Grand Tour souvenir from c.1840-70.
Very good to excellent condition, not a single flaw to note. All measurements are noted on the photos. Caskets like this fine old opaline are a premium in Paris. I have not much doubt this one will end up back in Paris and twice my price at one of the elegant antiques venues, once we can all travel again. Buy it now as a hopeful souvenir of your next trip, perhaps.
