Stunning 19th century French carved mother of pearl guards with gold and silver foils on the guards and a very ornate ring. Hand painted paper leaf, front and back. A Romantic Era scene, young woman with her sheep and dog, and unbroken jug in her hand (symbolism: virginity intact) younger boys in the distance play a flute while she daydreams. Each end dissolves into a rocaille and floral cartouche - isn't it just so elegant. Guards and sticks carved with florals. Would be a museum piece but for one flaw, restoration. The backside leaf is also hand painted. Might possibly be hand colored lithography on that side. Also some fragility at the folds. Guards are 26.5 cm long. Displays with elegance!
Very good to excellent condition for age and type. Would be a museum piece but for one flaw, restoration - you see it to right of the 2 boys, one stick broken long ago, and a restoration that eliminated the transition of rocaille on that side. The floral cartouche rather abruptly flanks the landscape pastoral scene. If you didn't have it pointed out, I doubt you'd notice. Fragile at folds here or there. Not one to put to use, but to display. So pretty. It has been protected in the bottom half of its box, which is how it will be sent out to you. No top for the box.
