Essex Jewelry and Antiques
Charming Antique French Gilt Bronze Miniature Portrait Box after Madame Le Brun
Regular price
$193.00
Presented is a superb quality gilt bronze trinket or sewing notion box set with a miniature portrait in the lid, dating to circa 1880-1910. The box is likely French, and the painting is after a 1789 piece by renowned French portrait artist to Marie Antoinette, Elisabeth Vigee Le Brun, her self portrait with her daughter Julie. This hand painted copy of the painting is beautifully executed with considerable skill, full of lively but soft detail, depicting Elisabeth in white and red embracing her daughter in grey. The gilt bronze body of the box is very ornately decorated as well, with applied laurel leaf designs on the top rim and continuous borders of lamb's tongue, acanthus leaf, and tongue-and-dart decoration around the sides. The interior is lined with fabric which is likely original. The hinges are particularly well made, designed in a way that the lid can't be over-extended when opened.
This piece is in excellent condition. The portrait is in great shape, with no chips or losses to the paint. The gilding of the bronze has only the most minor insignificant wear. The hinges function well and the lid shuts nicely. No breaks and no repairs.
The box measures about 2 1/2 inches in diameter and stands about 1 1/4 inches tall. -jm
This piece is in excellent condition. The portrait is in great shape, with no chips or losses to the paint. The gilding of the bronze has only the most minor insignificant wear. The hinges function well and the lid shuts nicely. No breaks and no repairs.
The box measures about 2 1/2 inches in diameter and stands about 1 1/4 inches tall. -jm