A favorite theme we see carried out in fine works of art in bronze and painting from the Animalier movement, mid-1800, this exquisitely crafted fox in a trap is entirely hand carved in wood. The attention to detail and the fine craftsmanship marks this chest as a master's work, though we can find no signature to help identify which one. The artistry is exceptional. The chest is an upright miniature cabinet - WONDERFUL as a furniture piece for a special doll, say your favorite BRU or other antique doll, and is made like a miniature chest of drawers. The carved cartouche says "Tresors", the French word for 'treasures', and it could not be more perfect for it's certainly a treasure in its own right. Someone has lined the interior of each drawer. There are 3 drawers, perhaps the bottom was always left open as they often were in smoker's chests, or perhaps a 4th drawer has gone missing over time. There are no scrape marks to indicate a drawer having been once there, so we are unsure which is accurate.
Very good to excellent condition, as you can see. There is a single flaw to note in the half-gone round ring carved at the base of the trap in which the fox is caught. If I didn't point it out, you would likely not notice it at all. The fox is fully intact, and everything about this fine piece exclaims its obvious care over the century and a half since it was carved. Superb! Looks like the lock would work fine, but we do not have a key to fit it at listing time, sorry.
