Fit for Royalty! I've long collected the French confectioner's boxes, as well as fine tortoise shell chests, boxes. The combination of the two loves met at very best with this large confectioner's or chocolatier's box. At nearly 8" x 5/5" and 4" tall when closed, that alone is exceptional. The fact of it being in excellent condition, entirely original, and with working lock and original key - well that makes it spectacular, and a personal favorite. How do I know it's a confections casket? Well, from experience, they were made light in weight, and the early ones were almost painfully beautiful. I fully expected to find "Boissier" engraved on the lock plate, and I think this is most likely a Boissier box. I had another, maybe 20 years ago which had the Boissier lock plate engraving, made quite similar to this. Dating c.1830-40, it would have been early in the legacy of Maison Boissier, which began in 1827, quickly rising to top ranking of all confectioners of Paris. It remains in operation, and there is a Boissier Museum still in Paris. In fact, 2 of our Boissier caskets are now in that museum. We have had such amazing treasures over the decades. None finer than this. Photos show it from all angles of view, so you can see its exquisite details. Gold metal thread trim inside with the cream colored moire silk lining. Meant for use as a jewelry box after its rich contents were consumed, it has obviously not been in use as anything but the fine art it truly is. All in top condition, no deterioration but the natural shell's response to the centuries. And not a single nick in all of it, just the crackle. Oh, my! Can I really let this one go?
Very good to excellent condition even if it were not nearly 200 years old. The framework is an incredible feat of metalwork, and is dore bronze, both cutaway and engraved with such artistry. Again, made to be light, and to be filled with individually wrapped confections, bits of Heaven, and requiring a lock and key to keep servants, etc., from pilfering the delicacies which warranted such a presentation box. Measurements are noted on the photos. I really can't see any flaws to note. The silk velvet is supple, fully-napped still, and a perfect color, no fading. This one has, indeed, been treasured! Two large panels of tortoise shell, one in lid and the other is the inner bottom lining. Oh, it has a crimson paper bottom liner. I guess I didn't get that far with my photos.
IMPORTANT NOTE regarding antique tortoise shell or ivory: We are great supporters of protection for endangered species in our modern world. We never buy or sell anything 100 years or newer; we donate to anti-poaching organizations; we don't hunt; we conserve in ways that impact global warming (we're totally solar at home), knowing those measures also protect the animals in the wild today. We also recognize the vast cultural history we preserve with our care and reverence for these antique objects, and agree with CITES that objects over 100 years of age have nothing whatsoever to do with species depletion in our current world.
Our offering exceeds the age limitation of "more than 100 years of age", and is well within the exemption for CITES regulation. If imported, met the CITES regulation. This item will be handled and shipped from our Utah business, and is not available for shipment internationally, nor within the USA to California, NY, Nevada, Hawaii, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington if it contains ivory, sorry. Please see our small print for more details.
