Pont-a-mousson.-box Napoleon III Period Floral Decor Burgauté.circa 1850

PONT-A-MOUSSON- Charming Jewelery Box or Paper Holder in rectangular shape in lacquered black lacquered cardboard on its ogee lid with a delicate and precious burgauté decoration with a flower throw motif: executed in mother-of-pearl enhanced with dazzling colors, blooming hollyhocks, poppies, cornflowers with leafy stems mingle their cheerful efflorescence. Forming a frame for this rural picture, small twisted stems painted gold scallop its cove traversed by a mesh with mauve-tinted burgau seedlings. Touches of gold and bright colors (blue, green, red), fine volutes, floral foliage scrolls adorn each side of the box set with a simple or split net removed with gold. Open, its flap reveals an interior sheathed in Cherry red suede. With its key. Work from the Napoleon III period in "Floral Style" from the famous Manufacture Adt Frères located in Pont-à-Mousson. Circa 1850.
For the curious:
Founded in 1839 by Pierre Adt (1820-1900), praised for having been able to make "the most marvelous use" of papier-mâché and pasteboard, this important Manufacture had to be rightly rewarded at the Universal Exhibitions (Medal de prix, 1854; Médaille d'or, 1878). Within its stands, everyone could admire "luxury articles of exquisite modern taste and incomparable finish in execution" (Le Panthéon de l' Industry, 1897). Established in Forbach (1853) then in Pont-à-Mousson (1872), with sales branches in Paris (rue Turbigo), in London, it acquired an international reputation during the years 1860-1870.
Although it held the monopoly of these "fantasy objects" - "caskets, book boxes, tea boxes, game boxes, toiletries or desks, hand screens - or even these "original pieces of furniture" -shelves , pedestal tables, desks, chairs and armchairs - made "in "lacquered cardboard" with gum encrusted with white mother-of-pearl or tinted at an expensive price because it requires time and various labour, prestigious Luxury Houses (Alphonse Giroux, Jean -Pierre Tahan) did not hesitate to market certain models for their Parisian clientele seduced by these works with "high gloss varnish" decorated with "fresh and dazzling" floral "motifs in the style of the 18th century".
-Let yourself be tempted?:
With a flattering presence, our Box is therefore one of those charming "fantasy objects" in diapering "lacquered cardboard" - like wallpapers, fabrics, hangings, so-called "comfort" furniture or movable pieces more important, such as the support furniture, the Bonheur-du-Jour, in neo-Louis XV style. Style called "Floral Napoleon III" hatched during the years 1850-1860. This one will meet with the Parisian society of the Second Empire, in love as much with luxury as with novelties, a real craze.
  To these considerations, we will add the wise words of Léon Brisse who, in view of the objects, movable pieces made of this unique material, related in the pages of his Album of the Universal Exhibition dedicated to H.M. Prince Napoleon: "Paper mache , or Laque Fleur is used particularly in the composition of small pieces of furniture, boxes, caskets and trays (...) It takes favor in France.It throws diversity, originality in the whole of a furnishing " (Paris, 1855-1856, Volume III, p. 281).
Work from the second half of the 19th century from the Napoleon III period produced by the Manufacture Adt Frères in Pont-à-Mousson. Circa 1850.
Materials: paper mache; varnish and lacquer; polychrome and gold paint; white and colored mother-of-pearl.
Dimensions: H.: 11 cm;-L: 21.5 cm; Depth: 17 cm.
Good condition (no lack of mother-of-pearl; varnish restored); minor rubbing.