Precious Antique Perfume Box with Boulle Marquetry. France, XIX Century

Gorgeous antique perfume chest made in France in the time of Napoleon III (1808-1873). The chest is decorated with Boulle-style marquetry and contains two small glass flasks original from the period. It is made of solid wood with ebonized finish, and the front side and the top bear wonderful marquetry decoration made of quality materials: tortoiseshell, golden brass and mother-of-pearl. The marquetry is in wonderful condition and preserves all its pieces. The box has been carefully restored in order to boast the great look that we can appreciate in the images. Inside it is covered of orange moare, original from the period and in very good condition. The perfume chest contains two fine carved-glass bottles, decorated with delicate hand-painted golden flowers. The flowers are painted on the top part of each bottle and on the lids too. These small perfume bottles are wonderfully preserved too. This antique perfume chest will stand out in a stylish dressing table, providing it with a fine touch of style and quality. Measurements: Width: 5.32 in / 13.5 cm. Height: 3.75 in / 9.5 cm. André-Charles Boulle - History André-Charles Boulle (11 November 1642 28 February 1732) was a French cabinetmaker generally considered to be the most preeminent artist in the field of marquetry. Christened by his contemporaries as "the most skillful artisan in Paris," André-Charles Boulle's name is synonymous with the practice of veneering furniture with marquetry of tortoiseshell, pewter, and brass. Although he did not invent the technique, Boulle was its greatest practitioner and lent his name to its common name: boulle work. Boulle also specialized in floral marquetry in both stained and naturally colored wood. Many of his designs are illustrated in a published around 1720: Nouveaux dessins de meubles et ouvrages de bronze et de marqueterie. Before 1666 Boulle was awarded the title of Master Cabinetmaker; in 1672 the king granted him the royal privilege of lodging in the Palais du Louvre. In the same year, he achieved the title of Cabinetmaker and Sculptor to Louis XIV, king of France. This new title allowed him to produce furniture as well as works in gilt bronze such as chandeliers, wall lights, and mounts. Boulles works can be found in the Palace of Versailles, the Chantilly Castle, the Cheverny Castle, the Louvre Museum, the Wallace Collection and the Royal Collection in London and the Getty Center in Los Angeles.