Antique French Gilt Brass and Leather Jewelry Casket | Napoleon III c.1870

A French Napoleon III jewelry casket of small scale and considerable detail — a domed-top coffret with deep black leather covering the lid, dark green leather panels inset behind pierced gilt brass openwork on the front, back, and sides. The metalwork is in the Renaissance Revival taste of the Second Empire: floral garland borders, anthemion and trefoil ornaments, beaded edging, scrolled corner mounts. Sits on four bun feet.

The dome opens to reveal an olive green silk velvet interior, period to the casket, with a small ridge handle at the top of the lid. Made in Paris during the Second Empire (c.1860–1880), when ladies' jewelry caskets of this construction — leather paneling caged in pierced ormolu — were produced in significant numbers by the Parisian boîtiers who supplied the great houses. A handsome small piece of vanity ware, complete and ready to use.