FINE SILVER GILT SCARLET AND HAND PAINTED GUILLOCHE ENAMEL BOX WITH PAINTED AND ETCHED IVORY SCENES

FINE SILVER GILT SCARLET AND HAND PAINTED GUILLOCHE ENAMEL BOX WITH PAINTED AND ETCHED IVORY SCENES

The scenes on this magnificent box are taken from two 15th century tapestries. The watercolour on ivory which forms the lid is taken from the original tapestry in the Musee de Cluny in Paris and is known as “Lady with unicorn and lion and organ”. The etched ivory (inside of lid) is taken from the original tapestry in the Musee des Arts Decoratives in Paris and it known as ” Musical Party in Open Air” these tapestries were woven in honour of a great ladies wedding with the unicorn representing the animal in her own coat of arms and the lion from her future husband’s, surrounding the watercolour on ivory is a silver band and outside this is a moulding of guilloche enamel overpainted with a delicate tracery of flowers and leaves. Made in Austria towards the beginning of the 20th century it was imported into London, England and bears the 925 hallmark for high grade silver and the date letter for 1930 and the silver mark for George Stockwell.