An unusual antique papier mache ladies' compendium box, meant for jewelry storage and other personal objects. The box is in the shape of a miniature armoire, decorated outside with mother-of-pearl chip inlay surrounded by gilt painted scrolls and dots. The top of the box has a scrolling shape and a raised element on top, faux painted to look like green malachite and with applied decorative brass shapes. The front doors also have raised faux malachite shapes and matching applied brasses. The two sides also have brasses applied atop flat faux malachite painting. The base is scalloped with plinth feet at the corners, also with mother-of-pearl inlay and scrolling gilt paint. One door has a lock with the key. The interior of the box features four small drawers which are embellished with winding gilt painted borders. The overall measurement is approx. 10-1/2"W x 8"D x 11"H.
Papier mache in French means literally "mashed paper". It is a term applied to a decorative art that had long been practiced in the East and Persia, and was brought to France in the middle of the 18th Century. The paper pulp is mixed with chalk and sand after which it is pressed into a shape and baked. It becomes a very hard surface that can lend itself to a highly polished surface. In the early 19th Century it was popular to embellish papier mache with paper-thin pieces of mother-of-pearl.
300/500 Sold $207.00
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