Antique French Coin Purse, Vernis Martin HP c.1810-60, like Boucher, Fragonard Romantic Era
In the manner of layered painting and varnish which ages to golden hues over time, and which is called "Vernis Martin" or varnish in the manner of the Brothers Martin. This style was developed in the reign of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, used on walls, furniture and small items in their time and you'll see much of it in the Palace at Versailles when you tour there. These smaller items, objet de virtu, the dates are often a bit later. The painted coin purse you see here would date early to mid-1800s, long after both Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette had met their ill-fated end at the start of the French Revolution. This one survives well, with nearly all of the old original painted and varnish layered surface intact and in fine form and professionally touched up so it's really quite fabulous. The motif on back is the crossed French torches we see carried throughout the French Empire era, as well, but the old courting scene reminds us of the 1700s art of Fragonard, Boucher and the Romant