A fine, unusual and collectable antique Austrian silver, plique á jour box: part of our continental silverware collection

Description

This unusual antique Austrian plique á jour* box has a rectangular form, crafted in 900 standard silver.

The anterior cover is embellished with pierced and pinstruck decoration in the form of a butterfly and flowers.

The pierced decoration is ornamented with translucent and opaque enamel of different colours.

The sides and reverse cover of this unusual and impressive box retain the original blue guilloche wave design enamel panels.

This hinged, hallmarked box is fittted with a subtle shaped thumbpiece to the upper cover.

The interior of the box retains the original gilt finish.

* Plique á jouris a vitreous enamelling technique similar in technical execution to cloisoneé, where the enamel is applied to defined 'cells' within a metal filigree. With plique á jour, there is no backing to the design, allowing light to pass through the enamelwork, suggestive of stained glass. Plique á jour is derived from the French 'braid letting in daylight'.

Condition

This impressive antique Austrian plique á jour box is a very good gauge of silver, fine quality and in excellent condition in keeping with age.

There are two pinhead size blemishes and slight crazing to a small minority of the enamel panels on the anterior cover, and minor surface scratches to the reverse cover.

Full hallmarks struck to the surface of the rim are clear.

Reflections in photgraphs may detract from the true representation of this fine example of Austrian silverware.

Dimensions

Length 8cm/3.1"

Width 5.6cm/2.25"

Depth 1cm/0.4"

Weight

3.7 troy ounces/116.9g