Product Details

French School (Napoleon III Period, circa 1860–1880) Bonbonnière Caddy of Two Egg-Form Hinged Boxes in White Opaline Glass, Set in a Gilt-Brass Wirework Wheat-Sheaf Stand. [France], circa 1860–1880. Medium and Support: Gilt brass (or bronze doré) wirework basket with cast naturalistic ornament; two white frosted opaline glass egg-form boxes hinged at the rim. The basket is formed of tightly bundled and splayed wirework simulating a sheaf of wheat or straw bound at center, enriched with applied cast sprays of grain heads and lance-shaped leaves in the round. An arched handle of braided twisted wire rises from the basket and terminates at the crown in a five-petal cast flower boss with bead center; trailing cast leaf sprays descend from the junction. Each opaline egg opens on a gilt-metal hinge and retains its white enamelled interior. Format: Assembled caddy. Approximately 7 × 5½ × 5 inches overall (178 × 140 × 127 mm). Each opaline egg approximately 3 inches in diameter. Condition: ...