A Delightful Champlevé Enamel Jewel Box with Domed Top and Fire Gilt Bronze Metalwork. French, Late 19th Century

List: $2,600

The lovely jewel casket has five champlevé enamel panels each with floral and scrolling decoration on a turquoise ruby background; raised on four scrolled French ormolu mounts. Late 19th century. [1. Champlevé is an enamelling technique in the decorative arts, or an object made by that process, in which troughs or cells are carved, etched, die struck, or cast into the surface of a metal object, and filled with vitreous enamel. The piece is then fired until the enamel fuses, and when cooled the surface of the object is polished. The uncarved portions of the original surface remain visible as a frame for the enamel designs; typically they are gilded in medieval work. The name comes from the French for "raised field", "field" meaning background, though the technique in practice lowers the area to be enamelled rather than raising the rest of the surface. Wikipedia: Champlevé] restorations. height: 3.5 in. 9 cm., width: 6 in. 15.25 cm., depth: 4.5 in. 11.5 cm.

• Country: France
• Period: Late 19th Century
• Materials: Bronze, champlevé, enamel, gilt bronze
• Height: 3.5 in, 9 cm.
• Length: 15.25 cm., 6 in.
• Depth: 11.5 cm., 4.5 in.
• Condition: Very good