Marquetry And Gilt Bronze Jewelry Box With The Image Of Eve, Circa 1860.

MAISON TAHAN, in Paris (attributable to the) - Of a curved rectangular shape, this very attractive Jewelry Box is variegated over its entire body with a shimmering Rosewood veneer inlaid in harmonious friezes called "V", "Square" and "End-Bois". Delicately chiseled in a frieze of fine leafy scrolls, delightful floral garlands, gilded bronze rods embrace, festoon its undulating silhouette. Elegant, a pearly feminine sets the upper dish of its profiled lid in an ogee shape. Gracefully positioned on a small rectangular die, an exquisite childish figure modeled in the round tops the latter. Chastely draped, her head slightly inclined, a smiling little girl with her hair tied in a bun plays in all innocence with a Serpent that she boldly holds captive in her right hand. At once modest and cuddly, this petite and piquant representation of Eve is, through its symbolism - Temptation - in perfect harmony with this "hand piece of furniture" dedicated to the finery of the seductive feminine gender. Opened, the Box reveals an interior covered in blue moiré set with a corded braid of the same color. Note the care taken with the interior hinges of the hinges with patterns engraved with nets, scrolls and volutes of leafy acanthus. Its trefoil key is embellished with little flowers. ----------------- A very tempting Jewelry Box... Formal elegance, the luster of the marquetry decoration, ornamental refinement, the piquancy of its ingenuous figurine are the key words of this Jewelry Box with a most flattering presence. In fact, it is part of the "luxurious fancy objects" of "small artistic cabinetmaking decorated with satin, velvet, moire" offered in particular as "New Year's gifts" by distinguished Parisian establishments of the Second Empire (Alphonse Giroux, Vervelle-Audot, G. Monbro, ..) concerned with the variety, quality and perfection of their production. Although not stamped, our Jewelry Box could bear one of its signatures but more likely that of Jean-Pierre-d'Alexandre Tahan (1813-1892) of which it presents analogies on signed pieces created in collaboration with the goldsmith-jeweler Alexandre Gueyton (1818-1862). In view of this Jewel Box placed under the delightful tutelage of a childish Eve, we will yield our pen for that, cheerful, of the journalist Auguste Luchet (1805-1872) who conceded, following his stroll during the Universal Exhibition of 1867 near the stands of the high representatives of the Parisian Tabletterie "The Box - this enchanting article - must be contemporary with the woman. When you find one you find the other. Pandora's box was a box (...). Love, intrigue and adornment, the three great dangers of the woman! However far there was a secret, a memory or a jewel (..), the box, this little "arché circula" - the word is almost holy -, also appeared to enclose, remove, ensure, hide the dear thing (..), sacred, precious" ( Industrial Art at the Universal Exhibition of 1867: furniture.., Paris: 1868). ------------ Materials: Rosewood; gilded bronze and engraved gilded copper; blue moire. Dimensions: H.: 16.5 cm; - W.: 33 cm; - D.: 23 cm. Fine Parisian cabinetmaking work from the second half of the 19th century, Napoleon III period attributable to Maison Tahan, Circa 1855-1860. In perfect condition. Tampon varnish. With its key. Functional lock. Original interior trim.