Large Travel Box In Marquetry And Indian Fabric – Louis XVI Period, Circa 1780.

Elegant and rare large travel case, made during the reign of Louis XVI, around 1780. It perfectly embodies the neoclassical taste of the second half of the 18th century, through rigorous geometric marquetry and the use of precious woods. The box is veneered in rosewood, arranged in 4 sheets in a closed pattern, framed by green-stained wood fillets, enhanced with Greek motifs at the corners, on a burr walnut background. The top of the lid has a rosewood fillet adding depth and contrast. At the base, a delicate checkerboard pattern fillet alternates maple and burr walnut, accentuating the quality of manufacture. The side handles in chased bronze, in the form of rings with a row of pearls on rosettes, are coordinated with the lock entry, which uses the same decoration. The overall effect is harmonious and characteristic of the careful productions of the Louis XVI period. Upon opening, the box reveals a partly stitched mercury mirror, bordered with an openwork braid, and an interior lined with an 18th-century Indian fabric, in raspberry and beige tones, with a stylized floral decoration. These printed cotton canvases were imported from India and then produced in France (in Jouy, Marseille or Nantes), and highly prized during the Age of Enlightenment for their refinement and exoticism. This box retains its functional period lock with key, its original hinges, and has been carefully restored, with a French polish finish. Dimensions: Width: 42.5 cm Depth: 28 cm Height: 20.5 cm Condition: Very good overall condition. Restored according to the rules of the art. Fabric in beautiful condition, mercury mirror in its original condition. A rare piece, both for its size and for the quality of its materials and the refinement of its interior. Ideal for a collection, a cabinet of curiosities, or as an exceptional decorative object. If this box corresponds to the Parisian productions of master cabinetmakers, the use of walnut burl can guide us to the region, we can assume that this box was made in a production center other than the capital, such as Dijon.