With the form of a little chair, seat being a half shell of natural mother of pearl shell, back being a wonderful eglomise (back-painted) glass panel with depiction or miniature painting of Paris' "Bourse" (their currency or stock market in the 19th century and before. Likely a trinket some tourist bought in the boutiques of the old Palais Royal, where such wares were on display and sale. Imagine - there were no photos and no t-shirts and no spelter Eiffel Tower keychains - well, no Eiffel Tower either for that matter. A booming new industry in this type of charming souvenirs thrived in France and we find this type of souvenir made there for other sites, other countries, even. This type of item was called a "vide poche" in France, which directly translates to "empty pocket", and describes it's use. The mother of pearl dish would hold cufflinks, the watch chain or other jewelry - the things you take off for a night's rest - that's how these were meant to be used. And now it's a lovely trinket to remind you of your own Grand Tour of Paris.
Very good condition for age and type. Some slight discoloration and possibly bubbling in the painting itself. The old mother of pearl dish is also free of the chips or cracks that happened to many items of the rather brittle natural shell. The hook is still there waiting for your pocket watch or your neck chain, and the mother of pearl tray will hold your jewelry overnight at bedside, as it was intended to do. There is a chip to the alabaster base, front left corner, and likely a few smaller nips. The ormolu framework on this one is also tight, undamaged, brightly gilded as the day it was made. A real beauty. Measurements noted on our photos.
