B1175 - SOLDThis is the most gorgeous antique French diorama I have ever seen! It is a homage to Marie Antoinette and has been made in exquisite detail. Perhaps it was commisioned as a souvenir of a visit to the Palace of Versailles? The diorama has a domed glass front with a silvered scalloped edge. As one looks through the glass you can see that the back is covered with a morceau of antique silk textile in a gorgeous shade of gold. In the centre is a print of Marie Antoinette. The print is framed with a fabulous gold metallic wire passementerie still bright and shiny and not at all faded by the passage of time. To each of the corners is sewn a faux pearl and in the centre of the bottom edge is a tear drop pearl. The print is crowned with a gilded rosette filled with little pieces of what appears to be jade. To either side of the print is one side of a gilded filigree belt buckle. From one of these hangs a tiny cross and the other a little oval charm with the letter M & a cross on it. When we turn the diorama over we see that it has a card back. Hand scribed in ink at the top of the card is, we think, 'Montjoye Saint Denis', which is a heraldic motto. At the bottom in the same script is written 'Semper fidelis' - 'always faithful'. There is a series of initials and a wax seal. There is also a loop for hanging on a wall. The diorama measures :- 18.5 cm (7.25 inches) wide x 15 cm (6 inches high. This is an extraordinary diorama to perhaps add to a collection of Marie Antoinette memorabilia. It is from a carefully selected collection of gorgeous antique French decorative pieces at 'La Belle Étoffe'. Please hover cursor over picture for magnified detail and click on picture for enlarged photo. SOLD
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