Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 14

Antique French Palais Royal Musical Writing Box

$16,257.16
£12,000
€14,026.89
CA$22,437.32
A$25,134.76
CHF 13,073.20
MX$306,592.17
NOK 166,439.19
SEK 156,940.29
DKK 104,692.86

About the Item

Internal Music Box Playing Two Aires From our Writing Box collection, we are delighted to bring to the market this exceptional French Palais Royal Musical Writing Box. The Writing Box of slim rectangular form raised upon ormolu lion pad feet with a pierced ormolu border framing a mirror top with matching mirror sides. The lid of the Writing Box is mounted with a central carved mother of pearl classical scene featuring the Greek Goddess Athena, goddess of wisdom, war, and the crafts and daughter of Zeus. Lifting the lid reveals a fully fitted removable tray with mother of pearl and steel inkwells, scissors, a seal, rule, letter opener, dip pen with gold enamel pansy inlay and a page turner. Removing the tray reveals the movement of the musical box which plays two aires. The French Palais Royal Musical Writing Box dates to the first half of the 19th century during the reign of Louis XVIII circa 1820. The French Palais Royal Musical Writing Box is complete with a working lock and two tasselled keys, one for the writing box and one to wind the music box. Literature Mark Goodger 25th Anniversary Catalogue Page 44 Palais Royal is the collective name of objects that were sold within a Palace in Paris. Originally it was built for Cardinal Richelieu in 1629 and was originally named Palais Cardinal but after the death of Richelieu, it was inherited by King Louis XIII and was named Palais Royal. The palace was later bequeathed to Philippe d’Orléans, a cousin of Louis XVI and in 1781, Philippe d’Orléans, on the verge of financial ruin, decided to subdivide the Palais Royal Garden, which until then had been free of any dwelling. Construction took five years, after which 90 merchants moved in. The area was a popular place for loiterers, betters, pickpockets, and prostitutes. When the revolution ended in 1799 the Palais Royal was refurbished again by Napoleon Bonaparte when he became Emperor in 1804 and it housed galleries and shops selling high quality luxury wares such as this notebook above. It again fell into disrepair when gambling was banned in 1838 but restored in the 1870s. Due to this, there are very few if any pearl Palais Royal objects crafted after 1840. Mother of Pearl, Mother of pearl is an organic-inorganic composite material produced by some molluscs as an inner shell layer. It is the same material that natural pearls are made from and is desirable due to its strong and resilient makeup along with its beautiful iridescent shimmer.
  • Creator:
    Palais Royal (Maker)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 4.53 in (11.5 cm)Width: 10.24 in (26 cm)Depth: 7.09 in (18 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Circa 1820
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Northampton, GB
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 501587AAEX1stDibs: LU8027245480732

More From This Seller

View All
Antique French Boulle Writing Box
Located in Northampton, GB
Edged In Brass From our Writing Box collection, we are pleased to offer this French Boulle Writing Box. The Writing Box of small form having a square shaped body veneered in ebonise...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Desk Sets

Materials

Brass

Antique French Palais Royal Mulberry Sewing Box
By Palais Royal
Located in Northampton, GB
Louis XVIII (1814-1824) From our Sewing Box collection, we are delighted to introduce to the market this superb Palais Royal Mulberry Sewing Box. The Sewing Box of sarcophagus shape beautifully veneered in Mulberry wood with cut steel faceted stud decoration raised upon small ball feet with a central mother of pearl vacant initial plaque and large looped handle to the lid. The interior of the Sewing Box contains an internal mirror, silk cushion and a removable tool pad with seven mother of pearl tools, four with gold pansies enamel decoration and a scent bottle. The Palais Royal Mulberry Sewing Box dates to the The French Sewing Box...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Decorative Boxes

Materials

Gold, Cut Steel

Antique Victorian Calamander Jewellery Box Rare Mechanism
Located in Northampton, GB
Calamander Veneered Exterior From our Jewellery Box collection, we are delighted to introduce this Unusual Antique Calamander Jewellery Box. Th...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British High Victorian Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Brass

Regency Penwork Tea Chest
Located in Northampton, GB
Sycamore Tea Chest Circa 1815 From our Tea Caddies collection, we are delighted to offer this Regency Penwork Tea Chest. The Chest crafted from Syca...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Tea Caddies

Materials

Sycamore

Regency Penwork Tea Chest
$4,736 Sale Price
30% Off
Free Shipping
Antique Victorian Writing Box by G.H. Radcliffe Multiple Secret Compartment
Located in Northampton, GB
Late 19th Century Writing Box with two Secret compartments From our Writing Box collection, we are pleased to offer this Victorian Coromandel Writing Box...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English High Victorian Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Antique English Victorian Coromandel and Mother of Pearl Jewellery Box
Located in Northampton, GB
Victorian Circa 1875 From our Jewellery Box collection, we are pleased to offer this stunning Coromandel and Mother of Pearl Jewellery Box. The Jewellery Box of rectangular shape be...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English High Victorian Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Shell, Wood

You May Also Like

Jewelry box Napoleon III
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Jewelry box Napoleon III Materials gilt bronze and ceramics Origin France Circa 1880 No Restorations Excellent condition Materials gilt bronze and ceramics ALL CERAMIC PLATES ARE PER...
Category

Antique 1880s French Napoleon III Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Bronze

French late 19th century Art Nouveau Period Ormolu box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and high quality French late 19th century Art Nouveau Period Ormolu box. This exceptional box is raised on four foliate feet below large scale scrolled acanthus leaf corne...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Art Nouveau Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Ormolu

Jewelry Boxes or Wooden Box with Key, Restauration Period 19th, France
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Charming jewelry box or case. The box has a compartment for rings and 3 compartments for earrings, necklaces, bracelets, stones. Very interesting opening mechanism with pusher syst...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Restauration Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Wood

19th Century Sevres Style Casket
Located in London, GB
19th century French Sevres style ormolu and porcelain casket having light blue ground, painted with panels of romantic scenes.
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Ormolu

French Victorian Porcelain Box
Located in Queens, NY
French Victorian green and white pate sur pate porcelain rectangular shaped box with bird design
Category

Antique 19th Century French Victorian Decorative Boxes

Materials

Porcelain

French Victorian Metal Jewelry Box
Located in Queens, NY
French Victorian large faux wood painted metal jewel box with bronze dore trim and center frame.
Category

Antique 19th Century French Victorian Decorative Boxes

Materials

Metal, Bronze