Composition Of Red Tortoiseshell Gold Piqué-work Box,mid-18th Century.

Circular box in composition of red tortoiseshell powder called "Indian red". Inlays of nets in the form of waves of different shades of gold (rose gold and white) run across the lid, the frame and the base. The removable lid is decorated with an exceptional composition in black lacquer and "piqué". The technique of "piqué" consists of inlaying small gold nails of different shades into the lacquer. This technique appeared at the beginning of the 18th century. This composition presents a still life of squash surrounded by flowering trees probably influenced by Asian decorative objects. The interior is entirely lined with blond tortoiseshell.
Dim: Diameter: 2.5 in (6.3 cm) / Height: 0.8 in (2 cm)
Work from the mid-18th century. Circa 1750-1760.
A few small missing elements on the body of the box.