French Crystal and Ormolu Jewellery Casket
You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item
When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.
- Ormolu - Ormolu was popular with French craftsmen in the 18th and 19th century for ornamental fittings for furniture, clocks and other decorative items. True ormolu is gilt bronze, that is bronze that has been coated with gold using a mercury amalgam. Due to the health risks associated with using mercury, this method of creating ormolu was discontinued in France in the 1830s. A substitute was developed consisting of about 75% copper and 25% zinc, however it was inferior to the bronze version. It was often lacquered to prevent it tarnishing.
This item has been included into following indexes:
Visually similar items
A black lacquer and gilt chinoiserie tea caddy, 19th century, 15 cm high, 24 cm wide, 16 cm deep
19th century Chinese export black lacquer sewing box painted gilt decorations with original carved bone fittings
Dutch sterling silver oblong casket ornately chased all-over with cherubs in a landscape, birds, masks and scrolls with caryatid supports with paw feet, import marks for Elly Isaac Miller, London, 1902, 15 cm width
Antique French glass table trinket box, approx 17 cm high, 23 cm wide, 18 cm deep