1720s rectangular box, veneered with brass, copper, white metal and mother of pearl

A rectangular casket, with in-curved, canted corners, the hinged lid with concave lower borders. The casket is of wood (probably oak), veneered with brass, copper, white metal (possibly pewter) and mother-of-pearl, with additional decoration in paint and ink. The design on the lid shows a scene of the Toilet of Venus and the sides of the casket are inlaid with scenes of playful putti. All the edges of the casket are covered with gilt-bronze mouldings, and the casket is raised on gilt-bronze scrolled feet.

Bequeathed by John Jones

Acquired by John Jones before 1882

What appears to be a première-partie version of this was offered for sale by Sotheby's, New York, as part of the Keck Collection, La Lanterne, Bel Air, sold in NY 30 November - 5 December 1991, lot 8.The casket came from the collection of Mrs Virginia Chambers, New York, sold Sotheby's NY, 31 Oxtober 1981, lot 279. Lot 31 in the same sale was a small table in similar technique (the blossom boughs are closely similar).
The catalogue entry referred to three other caskets of related form and decoration:
!) One sold from the collection of Mr Arturo Lopez Willshaw, sold Sotheby's, Monaco, 23 June 1976 (no lot number recorded)
2) A slightly smaller casket, bearing the Hamilton Palace label and the number 2127, sold by Ader Picard Tajan, Paris, 28 November 1978, lot 149
3) Another, also from Hamilton Palace, sold Christie's, 20 July 1882 and re-sold from the collection of the Hon. Mrs Nellie Ionides, Sotheby's, 22 November 1963m, lot 1

A number of French boxes of this size and type of decoration survive from the 18th century. They are too big to have been made as part of a toilet set, which would have included small boxes with a mirror, pincushions and brushes for the top of a dressing table. These boxes were probably made for ribbons and other trinkets.

The decoration of this box is composed of veneers of brass, copper, a white metal (probably pewter) and mother-of-pearl. It is a variant of boulle marquetry, a technique that emerged in France before 1700 and derived its name from André-Charles Boulle, cabinetmaker to Louis XIV. The materials traditionally used in boulle marquetry were tortoiseshell and brass. The box features a scene of the Toilet of Venus, showing Venus attended at her dressing by playful figures of putti or cupids.

1053:1-1882