Money box - Gilt brass - Small box

Tabletop Money Box with Frisage Marquetry
Napoleon III era / End of the 19th century (Neo-Régence style)

Accessory: Sold with its wrought-iron key.

Description of the lot:
Elegant and rare small masterwork piece serving as a table piggy bank or gaming tokens box, made with veneer of precious wood featuring fretwork marquetry in a four-leaf pattern (often referred to as “butterfly wings”). The slightly domed lid is centered by a delicate brass rosette, cut in the shape of a fleuronné diamond.
The interior reveals high-quality craftsmanship, with a dark wood lining and a neatly cut money slot integrated into the upper molding of the lid.
The major interest of this piece lies in its polished brass fittings and its original locking mechanism: a late 19th-century security lock stamped with the prestigious official inscription "BREVETÉ S.G.D.G." (Sans Garantie Du Gouvernement, under the 1844 law), a mark of innovation and technical quality for the era.

Technical Sheet:
Style reference: High Époque / Regency-inspired.
Period: Second half of the 19th century (c. 1860–1880).
Materials: Woods of precious species (walnut burl or burl wood), plates, hinges and polished brass rosettes.
Mechanism: S.G.D.G. patented mechanical security lock, in perfect working order.
Dimensions: Small tabletop format (masterpiece/ fine box for small wares).
Several signs of wear.