SMALL BOXES

This page presents our small boxes collection made in collaboration with great artists of the Second Empire, and adorned with a meticulous, delicate decoration of porcelain marqueted flowers, a technic developped by the talented Julien-Nicolas Rivart.

Materials : Blackened pearwood, gilt bronze, brass, porcelain marquetry.
Localisation : France, between 1860 and 1867
Dimensions : H : 40 cm, L : 76 cm, P : 65 cm

Engraved « Rivart, breveté 26 Boulevard Baumarchais »

Former Elsa Schiaparelli Collection

Jewel case

This large jewel case, which sophisticated decoration of porcelain inlay contrasts with blackened wood, bears the signature of Julien-Nicolas Rivart.

The sobriety of the case, bordered with black and gold laces, is only broken by small gilt bronze mounts depicting shells and foliage borrowed from the Louis XV style vocabulary. The interior, just as beautiful, has the warm tone of the rosewood veneer.

The delicacy and rarity of this object were recognized by the woman of taste that Elsa Schiaparelli was, since it was in the possession of this major personality of fashion and of 1930’s Paris, who made it her jewelry case. Elsa Schiaparelli, born in 1890 at the Corsini Palace in Rome, was a figurehead of haute couture between 1930 and 1950. Friend of the Surrealists in the 1920’s, she always promoted avant-garde and creativity, but this case is the witness of her personal sensitivity to other aesthetics and her receptivity to the poetry of things.

marcmaison.com

Porcelain marquetry of roses and jasmines

The decoration of flowers, blue and white campanulas, yellow daisies, roses and jasmines, here is of extreme finesse. These are inlays of porcelain, and painted resin for the thinnest foliage, a technique arrived at its perfection in the last years of Rivart ‘s career. The address engraved on the inside, 26 Boulevard Baumarchais, is indeed that of his last workshop, from 1860 to his death in 1867.
Contrasting colors accentuate the luminosity of these floral compositions, so the deep pink makes all the more vibrant the leaves of jasmine’s aqua green, and the orange of the daisies revives the campanulas’ blue.
The box lid is decorated with roses and jasmines, the ultimate flowers of romance, while the sides are dotted with wild flowers, bellflowers and daisies, which evoke innocence and coquetry.

Detail of the porcelain marquetry on the lid

Materials : Rosewood, gilt-bronze, porcelain marquetry, crystal flowers, cushion.
Localisation : France, between 1850 and 1867
Dimensions : H : 24 cm, L : 43 cm, P : 33 cm
Signed : « Tahan » on the lock.

Perfume box

This elegant perfume box, signed by the Maison Tahan , is a rare example of their collaboration with an artist outside the company. Adorned witth gilt bronze and porcelain marquetry, this box is characteristical of Rivart’s production. Rivart’s patent allowed him to retain exclusivity on this type of work and he was obviously closely involved with the box’s fabrication.

marcmaison.com

Porcelain marquetry of peonies

In this example, the peonies that decorate the lid of the box are executed in a range of elegant pastel tones that depict each petal with great precision while conveying the fragile quality of the flowers. The use of green-tinted resin for the delicate stems adds to the refinement and realistic look of the bouquet of flowers. The four small panels decorating the side panels continue the floral theme, a favorite device used by Rivart . Pansies, lilacs and rose leaves cover the surface of the wood, painted in delicate, monochrome tones of white and mauve.

Detail of the porcelain marquetry

Materials : Leather, brass, porcelain marquetry.
Localisation : France, between 1853 and 1856
Dimensions : H : 13 cm, L : 25 cm, P : 20 cm

Leather sheathed jewelry box

This box is graciously decorated with flowers in porcelain inlays by Julien-Nicolas Rivart.

Since Rivart patented his invention in 1849, he foresaw the possibility of inlaying not only in wood, but in several other types of materials as well, including cardboard, velvet and leather.
Nevertheless, such beautiful examples are scarce, and his box is of a high historical interest.

marcmaison.com

Porcelain marquetry of roses and campanules

You can see on this detail the delicate work : made out of inlayd porcelain, the bouquet of roses and blue campanulas is detaching itself from the leather.