French Antique Maison Vervelle Tea Box Napoleon III - $365 - (Manti, UT)
We have had a great time in Paris searching for rare antiques, especially ones that are from a master craftsman. This Tea Box by Maison Vervelle Company was a rare treasure for us and we thought someone else might find it special as well. The Company, Maison Vervelle, is highly regarded as making some of France's finest furniture. Maison Vervelle was established in 1804 by Jean-Francois Vervelle and exhibited at numerous expositions during the early 1800's. In 1856 the company was taken over by Henry Audot and by 1866 was known as H. AUDOT, Dallongeville, working at 1 rue Neuve-Montmorency in Paris. The firm was particularly renowned for making small luxury items and "d'ebenisterie de goût et de fantasie" which means, 'cabinets of taste and fantasy.' It is made of wood, possibly mahogany, covered with black Lacquer. It has beautiful Boulle brass inlay on the top forming a cartouche with the engraved initials, A. R. Around the edges on the top are brass inlay stringings and also, a line of brass is fitted around the bottom. Inside are two compartments with exotic wood covers with brass inlay. It has a lock plate with the name, Maison Vervelle, AUDOT Luce Lue Nc, Montorency-Feydeau. That suggests it was probably made between 1856 when Henry Ardot took over the Company and 1866 when he changed the Company name to ARDOT. It has a working lock and key although the key is not original. It is 9.25 inches long, 5 inches wide, 4.75 inches tall and weighs nearly two pounds. Sadly, the box has some serious damage which of course reduces its value significantly. It appears to have been dropped so that the right back and left front corners are damaged and the brass work and lacquer either missing or bent. On the outside surface, the lacquer finish has a variety of little dents, marring, and small scratches. There is a crack about two inches long on the back left corner, possibly from drying. Inside the original foil lining has been removed and a red fabric with gold colored …
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From ebay.com - 1 month ago