Large Travel Box in Marquetry and Indian Fabric – Louis XVI period, circa 1780.

An elegant and rare large travel case, made during the reign of Louis XVI, circa 1780. It perfectly embodies the neoclassical taste of the second half of the 18th century, through its rigorous geometric marquetry and the use of precious woods.

The case is veneered in rosewood, arranged in four sheets in a closed pattern, framed by green-stained wood fillets, enhanced with Greek motifs at the corners, on a burr walnut background. The top of the lid features a rosewood fillet adding depth and contrast.
At the base, a delicate checkerboard patterned fillet alternates between maple and burr walnut, accentuating the quality of its workmanship.

The side handles in chased bronze, in the form of rings with a row of pearls on rosettes, coordinate with the lock escutcheon, which features the same decoration. The overall effect is harmonious and characteristic of the fine productions of the Louis XVI period.

Upon opening, the box reveals a partially quilted mercury mirror, edged with openwork braid, and an interior lined with 18th-century Indian fabric in raspberry and beige tones, featuring a stylized floral design. These printed cotton canvases were imported from India and then produced in France (in Jouy, Marseille, or Nantes), and were highly prized during the Age of Enlightenment for their refinement and exoticism.

This box retains its working period lock with key, its original hinges, and has been carefully restored with a French polish finish.

Dimensions:
Width: 42.5 cm
Depth: 28 cm
Height: 20.5 cm

Condition: Very good overall condition. Restored according to the rules of the trade. Fabric in beautiful condition, mercury mirror in its original condition.

A rare piece, both for its size and for the quality of its materials and the refinement of its interior. Ideal for a collection, a cabinet of curiosities, or as an exceptional decorative object.
While this box corresponds to the Parisian productions of master cabinetmakers, the use of burr walnut may point us to the region; we can assume that this box was made in a production center other than the capital, such as Dijon.

Ref: AAQBLTSX66