Antique French Boulle Inlay Sewing Box with Opulent Fitted Interior

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Antique French Boulle Inlay Sewing Box with Opulent Fitted Interior

About the Item

Elegant antique French Napoleon III era 11" ebony or ebonized sewing box with ornate brass & shell Boulle inlaid cartouche and opulently fitted interior holding a ruby glass & hallmarked silver scent bottle, many sewing tools and 5pc crochet hook! About as fine as they come, the box itself veneered in either ebony or ebonized rosewood, a jet black exterior with brass strip inlays & edging and an ornate reticulated cartouche centered on the lid! Very Napoleon III in style. The interior equally impressive with a royal purple moire silk in the lid & tooled velvet upper tray that is fitted to hold four gilt ormolu spools, that lovely enameled ruby or cranberry glass perfume flask, a crochet handle with interchangeable hook tips, two covered compartments and then a few other sewing implements up front consisting of a needle case, thimble and stiletto. The forward most tools, scissor most definitely, may not be original but the crochet pieces, perfume and spools are surely the ones sold with it well over 100 years ago. The tray comes out and reveals the lower portion of the box, simply lined and a storage compartment for the rest of your sewing necessities. A museum quality box, opulent inside & out and guaranteed to impress!

Very good condition. There is some clearcoat markings on the lid, rear left corner, as if someone pulled off a strip of tape removing a bit of the clear finish. No missing inlay though there is some crazing to the red and pearl colored inlays in the cartouche. Some sewing tools are missing, some may be replacements. The vermeil silver cap of the scent flask has a dent or two but is strong, the inner glass stopper is there. The removable tray has a very subtle bend or warp to it but it rests securely inside the box and is really only noticeable when held at eye level. Working lock & key, structurally as sound as can be! See pictures for measurements.

Dimensions:
Width: 11 in (279.4 mm)
Style:
Victorian
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
Late 19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
Napoleon III (c.1850-70)
Condition:
Very good to excellent for age and type. Light evidence of age (please read description above). Some sewing tools missing or may be replacements. Working lock and original key.
Seller Location:
San Marcos, CA
Reference Number:
Seller: 610bllesew1stDibs: JU111117227102