Description
Antique Victorian Diorama Jewelry Box – Hand Drawn Pastoral Scene
This is such a wonderful little treasure, one of those you may only find once in a lifetime. This antique Victorian diorama jewelry box is made of wood, and the cover is inset like a shadow box and displays a hand-drawn pastoral scene composed of layers. Each depth is a different layer or hand-drawn cutout element. In the forefront, you will see a lamb and two goats. The next layer is the shepherd playing the flute and sitting on large rocks. The subsequent layers include greenery, shrubs, and trees. More trees follow and the outline of the small town is the background. It is gorgeous!
The outside of the box is covered in paper banded by a pattern. One is dark wood grain. The other is the pattern of pottery crazing. Each seam is covered with a gold paper ribbon.
Inside the box, you will find a heavy metal tablet covered in gold metallic paper. This is required to offset the weight of the lid and stop the box from tipping back when the lid is open.
Although it shows signs of age, it displays beautifully. There is some loss of the wood on the corners, areas of loss of the paper ribbon, and water staining on the bottom. It was found in a very old barn in PA.
The box measures 4 5/8″ wide, 3 1/8″ deep, and 2 1/4″ tall. It weighs approximately 11.3 ounces.
There are no marks. However, based on the style and subject matter, this antique Victorian box is probably of Italian origin and made around the late 1800s. Perhaps a souvenir from a Grand Tour vacation, which was so popular at the time.