Late 18th Century Desk Accessories

Flat trapezoidal shaped tablet case in enamelled gold. The upper part is hinged and opens with a push-button. The case is composed of four translucent blue...

18th century micromosaic of a turtle dove on her nest with a chick, attributed to Giacomo Raffaelli. To see a similar plaque, signed and dated Giacomo Raffaelli, 1791; see: Aste Bol...

Flat, rectangular case for holding writing utensils in colored gold and vernis Martin (a type of imitation lacquer). A button serves to open the hinged lid. Four panels made of verni...

French neo classic desk seal. Wonderful desk seal, created in France during the late 18th century, back in the 1798-1808. This magnificent piece of art was conceived as a miniature sculpture mounted in a Louis XVI neoclassical style base. This base is crafted in 18 karats gold over silver with chiseled and incised decorations, supporting a magnificent extremely detailed carving of a women. The carved piece, depicts, the naked portrait bust of the classical Greek-Roman goddess of the flowers and nature Flora (Heba), facing forward and exhibiting her breasts, undressed and crowned with flowers, wheat and ivy. Flora or Heba She was the deity of the flowering plants, fertility, spring, and blossoming. Although she was a minor figure compared to other goddesses of the Roman empire, she was important as a fertility goddess. Flora was responsible for the abundance of the crops in spring, so her worship strengthened as this season approached. Her name derives from the Latin floris, which means flower, and her Greek counterpart was the nymph, Chloris. The Sabine King Titus Tatius introduced Flora into the Roman pantheon...