Box - .950 silver - antique silver box

Antique French silver snuff box – Late 18th / early 19th century

Description

Elegant antique silver box of French origin, dated between the late 18th and early 19th centuries (c. 1790–1820).

The piece features refined hand-engraved decoration. The lid is adorned with a delicate repetitive geometric motif, while the sides display an elegant neoclassical vegetal decoration, characteristic of the artistic taste of the transitional period between the 18th and 19th centuries.

Its construction reveals high-quality artisanal work, with the original hinge and an interior completely hand-made. Given its dimensions, it was probably meant to hold snuff, pills, small personal objects, or seals.

Inside it preserves two old seals. One depicts a head within a diamond or polygonal cartridge, while the second corresponds to a male head.

The typology of the seals, together with the decorative style and the artisanal execution, allows attributing the piece to French production of the late 18th or early 19th century. The exact identification of the seals requires specialized study.

The box retains an attractive original patina and is in very good condition, with the wear typical of a piece over two hundred years old.

This is an excellent collector’s item, especially interesting for collectors of French silver, antique boxes, and period desk objects.

Features
• Origin: France.
• Period: late 18th – early 19th century (c. 1790–1820).
• Material: Silver.
• Technique: Hand-engraved silver.
• Dimensions: 4 × 2.5 × 1.5 cm.
• Seals: Two old seals visible inside.
• Condition: Very good conservation state, with a light patina and wear consistent with its age.