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Object Timeline

1983	We acquired this object.
2010	We photographed this object. We photographed this object.
2015	We photographed this object.
2024	You found it!

Box (France)

This is a box. It was made by Louis Toussaint. It is dated 1858 and we acquired it in 1983. Its medium is chased, engraved and enameled gold. It is a part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department.

This object was donated by University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. It is credited Gift from the Thomas W. Evans Collection from University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.

A compact in a rectangular form with rounded corners throughout with a white, lightly iridescent mother-of-pearl panel set on the lid with a gold border. A smaller black centered panel with a dragon in the center is made from abalone shell with a cabochon ruby as the eye. Curvy and gold cloud-like lines emanate from the dragon with four sets of two small rose cut diamonds on the top side and bottom side edges bordered with a narrow gold border. A strand of small natural pearls surrounds the border of the lid sitting on a black enamel base secured with gold loops incrementally placed. A somewhat round coral carving sitting on a black enamelled Ruyi is centered by cabochon emeralds on the far sides of the lid. The front and sides of the compact are enamelled in black with gold abstract geometric designs centered by a coral thumbpiece with diamonds secured in the front. The case could easily fit into the palm of your hand.

Compact, Dragon, ca. 1924
enamel, mother-of-pearl, natural pearls, shell, rose-cut diamonds, carved....
Lent by Private Collection.
13.2016.79

A rectangular shallow box inlaid with rainbow-colored iridescent shell on a black enamel background, depicting figures in a garden landscape. Centered in the foreground are three figures standing on a sloping shore, with stylized plants and a footbridge at bottom left. The figures - two women on the right speaking with a man on the left - wear long robes with their hands bundled in long sleeves. In the upper right background an old bearded man stands behind a rickshaw parked near a tree. In the upper left background is a rocky landscape at water’s edge, with cabochon diamonds sprinkled above the water at center. The larger pieces of shell are finely incised with details; the contours of the shore are filled with sparkling chips of shell. Bright gold borders mark the edges of the box. Fluted vertical straps of orange-red coral on the sides of the box connect to three fan-shaped coral mounts on the top surface. Two mounts are spaced on the far edge, at the top of the garden scene, with one mount centered on the near edge, at the bottom of the scene. The mounts are studded with bright green cabochon emeralds in gold fittings. The front side of the box has an inlaid shell scene depicting rocks and plants, accented with cabochon emeralds and bracketed at the corners with coral and pale green fluted nephrite. The box sits on a softly-reflective white surface.

Box, Lac Burgauté
gold, lac burgauté (panels), round diamonds, carved coral, black enamel,....
Lent by Private Collection.
13.2016.80

A small vanity case features a vertically-oriented design, depicting a dark blue enameled panther on a horizontal row of rubies. The animal is set against a mother-of-pearl garden landscape and in front of a stand of tall, thin trees on the left. Round turquoise blue blossoms punctuate the vertical green stand and accented by a round ruby sun at the top right corner. Trees of black onyx branches outlined in gold stand between the thin trees and the panther, also with round turquoise blue blossoms. The top and bottom bands border the case are reverse decorated with raised onyx bars alternating with mother-of-pearl inlay accented with diamonds. Gold accents also accent the tops and bottom outlines of the borders.

Vanity Case, Panther
calibré-cut and cabochon rubies, mother-of-pearl, turquoise, onyx, diamonds,....
Lent by Private Collection.
13.2016.87

Its dimensions are

H x W x D: 1.7 x 8.6 x 6 cm (11/16 x 3 3/8 x 2 3/8 in.)

It has the following markings

Left, inside rim: "LT" [with two-pronged spear/ tourne-broche in lozenge-shaped mark] and incuse 671 and 273 stamped on either side; rim on other side with French gold standard mark with classical male head facing right with "2" at right in hexagonal punch;

Cite this object as

Box (France); Made by Louis Toussaint (French, active 1856 - ca 1880); chased, engraved and enameled gold; H x W x D: 1.7 x 8.6 x 6 cm (11/16 x 3 3/8 x 2 3/8 in.); Gift from the Thomas W. Evans Collection from University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine; 1983-69-15

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/2EmST/
Accession Number 1983-69-15
Object ID 18800983