Essex Jewelry and Antiques

Ornate Handpainted c1900 European Porcelain Jewelry Dresser Box w Courting Scene

$553.00

Presented is a fabulous quality antique porcelain jewelry or large dresser box. This piece dates to the late 1800s or early 1900s and is of continental European make. The box is very ornately decorated, featuring a hand painted scene of a musician playing for two courting couples in an outdoor setting, very colorful and detailed. Surrounding the scene are foliate and shell or wave designs with rich gold gilt detailing. The end sides have marble-esque reserves bordered in light blue, and the back side is intricately gilt with foliate scrollwork, floral sprays, and latticework panels surrounding a central acanthus leaf or palmette. The front has a colorful floral bouquet design, as does the interior of the lid and of the box itself, again all hand painted. The box has gilt brass mounts and stands on four feet. The design of the lid is particularly nice, with a mechanism built into the hinges to stop the lid from over-opening and possibly being damaged.

The underside is signed with a crossed swords mark in underglaze blue, but we don't believe it to be a Meissen piece.

This piece is in excellent condition. There are no chips, no cracks, no breaks, and no repairs. This box measures about 9 3/4 by 6 1/4 by 6 inches. -jm