PORCELAIN LADY’S BOX WITH MINIATURE IN THE LOUIS XVI STYLE FRANCE, LATE 18TH – FIRST HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY

A refined round porcelain box intended for a lady’s personal use, executed in the elegant aesthetic of Late Classicism with pronounced features of the Louis XVI style. The body is made of fine porcelain and richly adorned with gilt bronze mounts applied over a deep cobalt-blue ground. The decorative programme is based on a symmetrical arrangement of floral garlands, stylised rosettes and ribbon bows, characteristic of French decorative art at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries.

The lid is centred with a painted miniature set within an oval medallion. It depicts an elegant young woman seated at a writing desk with a secrétaire. The gesture of her hand and her contemplative expression suggest a scene of composing or reflecting upon a love letter, a popular subject in genre miniature painting of the period. The palette is rendered in soft pastel tones, with delicate attention to costume and interior details. The artist’s signature is present but currently illegible.

The inner side of the lid is fitted with a mirror, emphasising the utilitarian function of the object and its association with the intimate space of a lady’s boudoir. The interior is finished in plain white porcelain, creating a harmonious contrast with the richly decorated exterior. Combining functionality with high decorative value, this box represents a characteristic example of refined French taste of its time.

Material: Porcelain, gilt bronze, glass (mirror), cobalt decoration.
Dimensions: Height: 7 cm; Diameter: 16 cm.
Condition: Good. Gilding well preserved with minor signs of age. Porcelain without cracks or restorations. The miniature is well preserved.
Provenance: Private European collection.