Western Europe, France, Paris, ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. A beautiful wooden and tooled leather chocolate box by Marquise de Sevigne with brass palmette shaped fittings, handle, and iron hinges. The interior is lined with a colorful green and yellow silk fabric with a faint gold print that reads "LA MARQUISE DE SEVIGNE / CHOCOLAT DE ROYAT / ROUZAUD / PARIS." The lid opens on a double hinge with an iron double keyhole lock-plate set into the front side. The palmette panels are riveted to the box's sides and lid exterior to help reinforce and decorate the luxurious container. The leather is tooled and embossed with geometric and stylized foliate shapes then gilded in some areas ten adhered over a thick wooden frame. The lavish style, weight, and locks suggest this box held valuable items, which it indeed did: chocolate. Size: 9.5" L x 6.75" W x 5.5" H (24.1 cm x 17.1 cm x 14 cm)

Auguste and Clementine Rouzaud were a married couple that founded the Marquise de Sevigne chocolate company in 1898 after purchasing a factory known as the Chocolaterie of Royat. They were not only interested in creating the best tasting chocolate but also the best presented chocolate, in order to compete with the already more established businesses. These refined, casket like boxes were intentionally made to look like 17th century period pieces to harken back the grand siecle and the reign of Louis XIV, the "Sun King" when chocolate was a much rarer and decadent commodity.

Provenance: Whisnant Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA acquired prior to 2000

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#169987

Fraying to silk lining with losses and flaking to leather. Losses to leather around lock plate and losses to gilt. Lid opens easily but is slightly loose. Interior lid retains some of the gold letting, but is faint and worn.