Antique Portrait Miniature on Ivory Box, Bonbon, or Snuff, Victorian Napoleon III Era Souvenir, c.1850-70
A souvenir box, c.1850-70s, lathe-turned carved ivory hinged snuff or trinket or perhaps bonbon, sometimes we see this style of 19th century box together with a rosary. Sometimes this style box is fitted inside for a pocket watch. Mounted on top, protected beneath a slightly convex cover glass is a hand painted portrait miniature of a woman in costume from the 1770s, French Romantic era. It might have been a souvenir of someone's trip to Versailles. It's one I've had for probably 40 years. Collections being disbursed now. Measurements are noted on the photos. Very good to excellent condition for age and type, this one is remarkably unscathed by time, considering the usual propensity of the material to shrink over time and form small hairlines, or chips from being dropped. I will point out one flaw along the outer border of the portrait's mount, a little of the ivory overlap missing from about the 9 - 11 o'clock position. Hinge and clasp working perfectly and no warp. The painting has