Toilet casket

French

Not on view

Known in French as a carré de toilette, this rectangular casket has canted corners and is richly decorated in so-called boulle marquetry of brass inlaid with tortoiseshell, mother-of-pearl, and tinted horn (contre partie). Containing ribbons, feathers, or other adornments, boxes like this played a role in the elaborate dressing ritual of the past and would have been placed on the dressing table. Similar caskets are depicted in Jean-Marc Nattier’s portrait Madame Marsollier and Her Daughter of 1749.

Toilet casket, Wood veneered with brass, tortoiseshell, tinted horn and mother-of-pearl, rosewood contre partie Boulle work); gilt bronze and steel, French

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Toilet casket, Wood veneered with brass, tortoiseshell, tinted horn and mother-of-pearl, rosewood contre partie Boulle work); gilt bronze and steel, French
Toilet casket, Wood veneered with brass, tortoiseshell, tinted horn and mother-of-pearl, rosewood contre partie Boulle work); gilt bronze and steel, French
Toilet casket, Wood veneered with brass, tortoiseshell, tinted horn and mother-of-pearl, rosewood contre partie Boulle work); gilt bronze and steel, French

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