Antique French Chocolatier's Presentation Box, Glass and Paper, c.1810-30, Confectioner

Chocolate or cocoa, as a substance and flavor was introduced to Europe in the 1500s, and by the 1700s, was raised to a fine art in France. So much so, in fact, that by mid-1700s, confectioners and chocolatiers were having special boxes made just for the presentation of their concoctions, bonbons, chocolate delicacies. The boxes, which always attract me, range from tiny round ones in card/glass and with recess of seed pearls, earlier 1700s, and got larger as time went on, fancier.  We've had some in finest tortoise shell, others with the maker's labels or engraved lock plate still in place - such as Boissier. We've sold some to the Boissier museum in Paris. This one, offered in such fine condition, is just in from France and is quite a treasure. The vendor's chalk notes remain on the papered card bottom, otherwise not defined for us, but it is a very early 1800s one in the typical cardboard, paper and glass. Yes, those outer panels are all glass (blue, red) and the old original interior