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DESK JEWELRY CASKET WITH SÈVRES PORCELAIN PLAQUES FRANCE, FIRST HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY, CIRCA 1830
DESK JEWELRY CASKET WITH SÈVRES PORCELAIN PLAQUES FRANCE, FIRST HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY, CIRCA 1830
An impressive desk jewelry casket executed in the opulent palatial manner of French decorative art of the Restoration period. The complex curvilinear body is crafted from finely selected rosewood, veneered in a striking diagonal pattern that enhances the sculptural volume and highlights the richness of the wood grain. The structure rests on four substantial sculptural feet in gilt bronze, modeled with pronounced Baroque scrolls and acanthus leaves.The surfaces are lavishly enriched with finely cast and chased gilt bronze mounts of high quality. Central to the decorative program are porcelain plaques from the Manufacture nationale de Sèvres, set within ornate gilt bronze frames. The polychrome paintings, executed on a blue ground, are devoted to themes of amorous lyricism: lush floral bouquets and playful putti, evoking the refined gallant imagery of the 18th century reinterpreted through the lens of early 19th-century taste.Particular attention is drawn to the porcelain plaque adorning the lid, featuring an exceptionally delicate floral composition. The painting is signed “BARRE SÈVRES,” allowing attribution to the Sèvres painter Barre, active during the first third of the 19th century. Signed plaques of this kind were reserved for objects of high representational status and were frequently commissioned for prestigious pieces of furniture and decorative works intended for aristocratic interiors.The interior of the casket is designed for the storage of jewelry and precious objects. A hinged front panel provides convenient access while preserving the monumentality and coherence of the exterior form. The casket stands as a refined example of the synthesis of cabinetmaking, gilt bronze work, and porcelain painting characteristic of leading French workshops of the period.Marks: Signed porcelain plaque: “BARRE SÈVRES”.Dimensions: Height 32 cm; width 58 cm; depth 36 cm.Condition: Good. Overall well preserved. Minor signs of age and use. Gilt bronze with even period patina. Porcelain plaques without chips or cracks.Provenance: France. Likely produced for an aristocratic interior or a formal salon in the first half of the 19th century.
10132 USD
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