1860s Boxes

19th Century Napoleon III period black lacquer jewelry or trinket box features an intricate lid. Intricately decorated lid highlights this beautiful trinket box, circa 1860's. The pe...

Beautiful ovoid-shaped covered vase in patinated bronze with golden highlights, with rich rotating decoration in relief. The lid, symbolizing Night, is decorated with a turtle, a moon, a dragon flying among the clouds ; and the belly, symbolizing the Day, is decorated with a rising sun, mountainous landscapes, and cherry tree branches. The whole, topped with a flamed seed, is supported by three African-type atlantes dressed in a loincloth. Historical and artistic context This work of art combines elements of Japonism and Orientalism, two important movements representative of the taste of the time for exoticism. Indeed, this taste for Chinoiserie was revived at the end of the 19th century following the Franco-English military campaign against the imperial army in China in 1860. Napoleon III’s French troops bring back part of the treasure from the Summer Palace, constituting in 1863 the famous Chinese Museum of Empress Eugénie at the Palace of Fontainebleau. First in painting, the movement quickly spread to decorative arts and furniture. This craze for the Far East is encouraged in France by the diffusion of Chinese ornamental works renewing the interior decoration of the luxurious Parisian residences of a clientele eager for something new. It was also under the Second Empire that the Orientalists were propelled to the forefront. Emperor Napoleon III, aristocrats as well as wealthy bourgeois in search of exoticism fill the order books of the most renowned artists. It is then not the predominantly academic style of the Orientalists that counts but above all the exoticism that they show to a fascinated public. Biography Alphonse Giroux and Company, famous curiosity and luxury goods shop was situated in Paris, at No. 7 rue du Coq-Saint-Honoré and in business from the time of the Consulate until the end of the Second Empire. The company was founded by Francois-Simon-Alphonse and continued in 1838 by his two sons, Alphonse-Gustave (1810-1886) and André (1801-1879). The father became a close associate of the royal family and specialized in the manufacture of refined items for gifts. Kings Louis XVIII and then Charles X were both supplied with gifts for « The Children of France » by Giroux. Making progressively small furniture, they were mentionned for the first time in 1837 in the class « cabinet...

Glass and ormolu-mounted octagonal casket. Made in France in the 1860s. Perfect original condition with a lovely patina. Set of two.

Heading : Tunbridge ware tea caddy c1860 Date : c1860 Period : Victoria Origin : Tunbridge Wells, Kent Decoration : Sarcophagus shape. Central floral mosaic within keylines borde...

Heading : Travelling Tunbridge ware writing slope Edmund Nye c1860 Date : c1860 Period : Victoria Origin : Tunbridge Wells, Kent Decoration : Central floral mosaic within keyline...

Pastoral box. Carved antler, wood, metal. Spanish school, 1861. Submit registrations. Oval box made of antler carved in its color, with wood on the lid to reinforce it, decorated o...

A finely crafted mid 19th century English burled wood card box, richly adorned with detailed brass mounts and a charming playing card motif on the lid. This exquisite box features pe...

Heading : Tunbridge ware box with image of Dover Church and Pharos Date : c1860 Period : Victoria Origin : Probably Tunbridge Wells, Kent Decoration : Central mosaic of Dover Chu...

Heading : Tunbridge ware games box depicting Bayham Abbey Date : c1865 Period : Victoria Origin : Tunbridge Wells, Kent Decoration : Central mosaic image of the ruins of Bayham Abbey within keylines; this is bordered by a berlin woolwork oak leaf pattern which is also within keylines. The side panels are decorated with fruiting vine berlin woolwork banding. The box contains the rules of Bridge, a cribbage board with six white and two black pegs together with two wooden whist markers...

Heading : Tunbridge ware glove box – probably by George Wise Date : c1860 Period : Victoria Origin : Tonbridge, Kent Decoration : Central floral mosaic to the cover with geometr...

Heading : Tunbridge ware sarcophagus tea caddy Date : c1860 Period : Victoria Origin : Tunbridge Wells, Kent Decoration : Central floral mosaic bordered by a geometric pattern within...

Heading : Tunbridge ware work box by Edmund Nye c1860 Date : c1860 Period : Victoria Origin : Tunbridge Wells, Kent Decoration : Central floral mosaic with heavy use of green oak...

Heading : Tunbridge ware glove box attributed to George Wise Jr Date : c1860 Period : Victoria Origin : Probably Tonbridge, Kent Decoration : Central floral mosaic within a geom...

Heading :Tunbridge ware writing slope by William Upton c1860 Date : c1860 Period : Victoria Origin : Brighton, East Sussex Decoration : Central perspective cubework with foliate ...

Heading : Tunbridge ware stationery box with writing slope Date : c1860 Period : Victoria Origin : Tunbridge Wells, Kent Decoration : Central image of a stag, floral banding to b...

Heading : Tunbridge ware card case George Wise Jr Date : c1865 Period : Victoria Origin : Tonbridge, Kent Decoration : Central floral mosaic with border of crosses to one side an...