Very RARE antique Victorian era RUSSIAN marked 8" round papier mache jewelry box, casket with ornate mother of pearl inlay, hand painted floral accenting and original partially legible paper label on the bottom! Beautiful. Papier mache started being made in the west (originated in the Orient) in the mid-18th century. Henry Clay is credited as being the major initial maker of quality pieces and he took out a patent in 1772 for "paper high varnished panels". In the form of tea chests and caddies, writing & sewing boxes, chests and poys. Papier mache reached its height of popularity in the early Victorian era, widely featured in the Great Exposition of 1851. This surely a Russian copy of the European pieces, a practice often occurring due to Nicholas the 1st's love of all things French. I can't quite make out the entire label but there is some cyrillic text and what appears to read "...bert, Moscou". A rare piece, don't miss it.
Some flaws to the piece, most notable are the missing portions of pearl inlay in the lid but otherwise a remarkable piece and rare in its origins. A flaw or two to the sides, everything visible in the images, but nothing major like a break or repaired damage. Working lock & key also. See pictures for all measurements.
