19th Century Bonbon Box Dragee Box Mirrored Beaded Wire Work C 1820

An exceptionally decorative circa 1820s mirrored candy or dragee box! This gorgeous little casket contains so many decorative elements. The receiver's of this box have cherished it down the centuries to enable us to still be benefiting from its beauty 200 years later.

This rectangular box features a lift off lid. The lid has four mirrored rectangular panels around the outer edge. Each panel with decorative gold and black decorated paper edging. To the center we see a domed glass rectangle. Under the domed glass rectangle is a clear glass backed arrangement. We see sandwiched between these two glass sheets a gold wired frame incorporating a central white bead cartouche. This central glazed arrangement is see through - as you can tell by being able to see the inner contents and also shown in our images with our hand behind. Within the circular cartouche are white painted beaded letters spelling 'd'on d'ami' or 'From A Friend'. Surrounding the circular cartouche are the same gold wires this time arranged in a pretty leaf and tendril motifs.

Lifting the lid we see the all original interior. Six original lift the lid little compartments with their original, integral green silk ribbon handles. Each of these six compartments would once have housed an array of the fanciest candies/chocolates. Afterwards when the contents had been eaten you were left with a gorgeous storage box. In this case, at some point used as a sewing box, as tiny glass beads remain in one of the compartments. Also found in another compartment are two card labels with handwriting and the tiniest little one eared, wooden mouse. Another compartment also has the remains of the original pink silk side ribbons which once attached to the base and inside of the lid, to hold it open.

Size: 1/1/4 inch high (3.5 cm) by 7 1/8 inch wide (18 cm) by 5 1/4 inch deep (13.5 cm)

Condition: Please study our many images and read on. Good and sound but with evidence of wear and age. The bottom top mirrored panel has an old STABLE crack to its bottom right corner. General age misting to the old mirrored panels. Two of the gold wires under the glass center panel have become detached, so too a few of the white beads. But be assured that they are not loosely floating about, they are stationary. A few general knocks and lifting to the decorative gold and black paper edging. Nothing that you would not expect, or detrimental.

A super rare example that you will cherish and be totally enthralled by. You cannot help but imagine the sheer glee of the original owner when she/ he received this box of delights.......

Item id:15601