Box Circa 1880 In Turquoise Tinted Alabaster And Gilt Bronze Mount.

Charming rectangular box in antique alabaster, subtly tinted a turquoise blue veined with white, mounted on four gilt bronze feet with a lion's paw motif. The mount framing the lid and interior is finely chiseled with stylized scrolls and foliage, testifying to beautiful goldsmith work. Inside, the color is deeper and more vivid, in shades of strong blue, the result of an old dye enhancing the natural shine of the stone. This contrast between the slightly cloudy exterior and the more vibrant interior underlines the aesthetic richness of this period box. Made around 1880-1900, this type of decorative object perfectly illustrates the taste of the Belle Époque for precious or exotic materials, often obtained by refined dyeing techniques.