Antique French 18th C. Billet Doux, Love Notes Etui, Vernis Martin, Louis XVI

  
Rare Antique French 18th Century Billet Doux, Love Notes Etui in Vernis Martin, Louis XVI Era. All items and photos are the express property of Antiques & Uncommon Treasure. No reproduction without prior written consent. We'll be sending out sale notices and special deals to our'Favorites' customers. I'm always so drawn to these; for the inherent beauty of them and age, but also for their history. These were used to courier love notes in mid to later 1700s, "Billet Doux" actually means sweet note. Clandestine meetings, declarations of devotion, the role it played in amour among the French Nobiliity can only be imagined.

Who owned and used this one? To whom were its love note directed. Painted in the unique layered paint and varnish made popular in the time of Marie-Antoinette and King Louis XVI's court, it was M-A's favorite decorative style. Remember, in that time Nobility marriages were more a political or business arrangement, so true love was typically an unending search outside one's marriage. Full measurements noted on the photos.

Very good to excellent condition for age and type, this one has 1 compartments and pique inlays of silver and gold at each end. This one is remarkably well preserved, both silver and gold pique trim at ends, and wood& shell very nice.

Note compartment has no chips to the shell. The red foil and hand painted body includes courting scenes and is exceptionally fine. It has very little loss to the paintings which include a Beautiful young woman, out in nature, her servant (or perhaps a spy) looking on from the top cover - charming! Shell interior collar hasn't a single flaw. Collect all you can find - I have!

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_gsrx_vers_631 GS 6.9.8b6 (631). This item is in the category "Collectibles\Decorative Collectibles\Other Decorative Collectibles". The seller is "antiquesuncommontreasure" and is located in this country: US.

This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Style: French
• Original/Reproduction: Original
• Country/Region of Origin: France
• Age: Pre-1800