A NAPOLEON III GILT AND SILVERED-BRONZE AND IVORY GOTHIC REVIVAL JEWELLERY CASKET

This 15th century-inspired strapwork casket is one of two models of jewellery boxes retailed by the prolific firm Maison Giroux under Ferdinand Duvinage in the last quarter of the 19th century, an example of which is illustrated in D. Kisluk-Grosheid, 'Maison Giroux and its 'Oriental' Marquetry Technique', Furniture History: The Journal of The Furniture History Society, 1998, Vol. 34, p. 166. While a version was available in Ferdinand Duvinage's patented 'mosaïque métallique', Kisluk-Grosheid speculates that two designs were 'produced in other luxurious materials...in order to broaden the appeal of the firm's wares' (ibid, p. 162).