Antique Tahan Paris Pietra Dura & Bronze Jewelry Casket with Working Key

This exceptional jewelry casket was crafted by the celebrated Parisian firm of Tahan, purveyor of fine boxes and nécessaires to the court of Napoleon III and one of the most sought-after names in nineteenth-century French decorative arts. Sourced directly in Paris, the box is in exquisite, perfect condition throughout.

The oval body is dressed in richly gilded bronze, its rope-twist borders, ribbon swags, and scrolling mounts resting on delicate paw feet. Set into the gilt bronze are several pietra dura panels of inlaid hardstone, including a colorful bird in flight on the lid and butterflies along the sides, each rendered in vividly colored stone against a deep black ground. The hinged lid lifts to reveal an interior that has been beautifully redone in plush tufted satin, and the box retains its original working lock and key.

A rare survival of the golden age of French box-making, this piece would make a striking addition to any collection of fine antiques, whether displayed as a jewelry casket or admired simply as a sculptural object in its own right.