Rare Tablet Case Or Dance Card In Martin Varnish And Miniature Portrait. Louis XVI

Superb tablet case with a rare "guilloché" decoration dating from the last third of the 18th century.

The case is rectangular, it is made of a deeply hollowed cream Martin varnish type composition to form a zip tag pattern evoking guilloché.

It is decorated with a pomponne frame including the famous inscription "Souvenir // d'amitié".

The front is decorated with a miniature portrait of a woman in a pomponne frame. The portrait is very nicely done, it generally represents the friend who offers this beautiful gift. The reverse has a small green domed glass revealing the Martin varnish in transparency.

It includes a small notebook composed of four sheets bound by a rivet and a pencil with a gilded metal tip.

An empty space was provided for a missing element.

Magnificent little case, charming witnesses of the social conventions and the art of living during the reign of Louis XVI.

8.6 x 5.1 cm
1.1 cm thick

50.65 grams

Very good condition. Micro cracks inherent to the materials.

Hand delivery in Paris or insured colissimo shipping.
France: €15
Europe: €20
World: €35