Featured Very Excited, Not Sure Where to Put this...18thC Mystery boxes?

That's not glass; it's rock crystal, aka quartz. Glass might not register at all, or might just go up one bar if it's the good stuff.

 

Awesome! So rubies, diamonds, and rock crystal/quartz? And a tiny green paste/glass (only went up one)

 

The greenies might be diopside; it's pretty but awfully fragile. I don't know how it rings up. Fluorite comes in green and might ring in that low too. If they only pushed the meter up one bar, they're not emeralds. In those days they probably mixed real with faux with abandon, so it's hard to be sure.

 

Update: Never got a response from that last museum I was recommended to contact. I just re-emailed the man again today and got a message saying they don't offer assessments at the museum. A little bit stumped as I was clear in my email I hadn't come to him randomly lol. So I seem to have hit a bit of a wall with these.

 

Sometimes you own something for years before you find something similar with a correct ID. You can enjoy them just as much without the ID though.

 

Ditto-For me,sometimes decades.There are things still waiting to be named.

 

UPDATE:
Okay so went down to Nice's antique sector, all high end furniture and the like but some gorgeous things. I showed my wares to 5 of the dealers. 4 all said they're lovely and intriquing, congrats but I have no idea and can't put an estimate on them. The last dealer I visited loved them and was interested in buying them. He said he'd pay 500-700 a piece if they were in great condition, but 400 for the pair in their current state. But he then took a great liking to the pyramid the more he looked at it and offered 500 for just that one. That sort of arrangment would suit me since that was kinda the one I wanted to sell if I was going to do that, but of course I don't take the first offer I see and I'm very hesitant to part with them anyway. I really just want an estimate in case I need to insure them.

One of the other dealers suggested I take it to some auction houses near me, one is a 10 minute walk away so I'm going to visit tomorrow and see what they say! There's a very upmarket one in Cannes as well that does antiques so will inquire there also. Stay tuned!

 

Great news so far. But good to show them to the auctioneers, as suggested. You can always go back to the dealer who wanted the pyramid shaped one.

We will.

 

Definitely show to the auction house.

 

Big congrats Rachel,and superb,patient marketing on your part.

 

Read this thread when it first came on site, just went back to the beginning to re-read. What an enjoyable journey! Very, very cool find as others have stated. Congrats and wonderful work doing such good research.

 

My idle (very idle) guess is that, stylistically, the first is more likely 19th C. Given that they share the same pillow feet, and were purchased together, it's not inconceivable that they are from the same manufacturer and period and have simply been together forever. But that's pure conjecture (it's all pure conjecture). I think if you search online you may find 18th C obelisk boxes. I think I saw one that was wooden and from Italy, but no function given.

Am I seeing a figure on the obelisk?


Can we get i direct shot, and are there others? If so, they may help to date, and they may be thematic.

 

There is a figure on each side, which I think were correctly identified as representing the 4 seasons. The one you show is fall, with grapes.

 

I don't know if I didn't see this at the time or was overwhelmed by it.

If it were English I think we would say Peace & Plenty or Peace & Prosperity.

I'd like to know a little more about this. I often miss things in photos & need to have my eye directed. Which side is this on (season or color of enamel) & where on the side?

I imagine the crossed branches inside the coronet are a palm for victory & an olive branch for peace.

Is the steeple of the pyramidal box padded? All the way up?