Display frame - Antique Belle Époque photo frame “Carte de Visite” in beveled glass and gilt brass style.

Elegant and refined antique bedside/table photo frame from the Belle Époque / Napoleone III period, of French manufacture, dating to the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The object is characterized by a thick panel of cut crystal glass, beveled, framed by structural elements in gilded brass. At the top rises a splendid ornamental crest richly worked in relief with classic volute and foliate motifs in the Louis XVI style. The base rests on two characteristic spherical brass feet which, together with the original rear metal easel, ensure stability and the perfect resting tilt.
The back preserves its original supporting card, complete with the printed inscription "Marque de Fabrique Déposée" surmounted by a crown emblem, testimony to registered French production and the piece’s authenticity. Inside there is an original sepia-toned antique photograph (Carte de Visite format) depicting a man in uniform.
Historical notes and curiosities for collectors:

• Brand of Manufacture: The marking on the back dates from the application of the historic French trademark law of June 23, 1857, introduced to protect Parisian creations from counterfeits of the era. The crown emblem indicates a manufacture aiming at the high craftsmanship and luxury market.
• The Cardomania of the Nineteenth Century: The frame’s dimensions (11x5 cm) were designed to accommodate the famous Cartes de Visite (CDV), the pocket-sized photographic format patented in Paris in 1854 by André-Adolphe-Eugène Disdéri, which revolutionized the world of collecting and private portraiture.
• Glass craftsmanship: The thick glass features a hand-cut bevel (perimeter bevel) produced on stone wheels. This technique was studied to capture natural light or candlelight in salons of the time, creating prismatic reflections that enhanced the portrait.
• The Military Portrait: The antique photograph inside shows a soldier in early-20th-century uniform. Objects like this often served as precious custodians of family memories during periods of military mobilization around the time of the Great War.

Dimensions:

• Height: 11 cm
• Width: 5 cm

Condition:

Good overall condition for the object's age.
The beveled glass is intact and free of significant chippings. The brass components display a beautiful natural patina of age with slight and fascinating traces of oxidation that attest to authenticity. The back card shows natural yellowing and period foxing but is structurally solid; the original rear easel mechanism is fully functional. Please view the gallery carefully, which is an integral part of the description.