Here's a fabulous antique souvenir of Osborne House (info added on this site): this is one that would have been a Victorian era souvenir of the Grand Tour visitor's trip to Osborne House, a Royal retreat in England. One might almost imagine the tiny painted figures there on horseback to be some of those Royals. The back-painted glass or 'eglomise' miniature painting has a pearl underlayment which makes the building shimmer in light. The architectural detail is amazing when you consider the painting itself is well under 3" in diameter. The tray was likely originally called a 'visiting or calling card tray', set on an entryway table for callers to leave their engraved name cards. These trays are fabulous to collect now, and are fun to use for cakes, desserts or just to display with your collection. I tilt mine up so they're wonderfully self-framed pictures/artwork that intersperse my antique books on our bookshelves. Those of you who shop with us know how much we love these old eglomise souvenirs - so much nicer than the screened t-shirts we're forced to bring back with us now from any/all destinations. Buy your elegant antique souvenirs from us, travel at will, and remember your travels as the Victorians did - charming!
Very good condition. There is some lifting or bubbling to the reverse painting on glass insert but no chips, cracks, etc. No damage to the heavy gilt ormolu. See pictures for measurements.
