In an aesthetic popularized primarily by Empress Eugenie, Napoleon III's wife, and the last Empress of France, (c.1850-70), whose apartment in Fontainebleau remains decorated with Victorian papier mache objects, furniture - this is a mother of pearl inlaid wall hanging 'pocket', large and with a center divider, which are often referred to as having been brush holders in their era. The inlays of shimmering bits of mother of pearl, and cabochons of Asian figures, hand painted and gilded, remains today a reminder of a regal era's aesthetic. Photos show it well, and measurements are noted on the photos.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type, there are no breaks in the old papier mache form, and the hanging holes remain ready for use. Its flaw would be that some of the pieces of inlaid mother of pearl have gone missing over the 170-150 years since it was crafted, leaving some of the surface without shimmer. The hand painted sections with figures, however, remain in exceptionally fine condition, little loss to the overpainting. The pagodas are still rich with gold enamel work. No holes in the piece other than those to hang it, it could be used as a planter or jardiniere, for bouquets, or still as a wall caddy for your necessities, brushes. Also suitable to rest on a shelf or desktop, along the serpentine even and uniformly flat bottom. Found in France, of course.
