Antique Erhard and Söhne Ormolu Table Casket with Champlevé Enamel Panels
Antique Erhard and Söhne Ormolu Table Casket with Champlevé Enamel Panels
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Additional Description:
An exceptionally ornate late 19th-century gilt jewelry casket attributed to Erhard & Söhne, richly decorated in the Rococo Revival taste with vivid champlevé enamel accents and elaborate cast ornamentation throughout.
The casket features a bombe-form rectangular body raised on elegant scrolling feet, lavishly adorned with deeply cast foliate scrollwork, mascaron mounts, shell motifs, and scrolling Rococo ornament. The lid and façade are inset with striking turquoise blue enamel panels decorated with stylized floral and foliate motifs in white, burgundy, navy, and green. Additional enamel cabochon-style roundels accent the corners of the lid, contributing to the jewel-like presentation typical of luxury continental decorative arts of the Napoleon III period.
The interior retains its original burgundy velvet lining, creating a sumptuous contrast against the warm gilded exterior. The underside bears an impressed maker’s mark consistent with Erhard & Söhne, the celebrated German firm known for producing high-quality gilt metal objets de vertu, caskets, inkstands, and decorative table accessories in the late 19th century.
This example reflects the firm’s mastery of French-inspired Rococo Revival design combined with precise German casting and luxurious decorative enamelwork. Pieces of this caliber were intended for refined vanity tables, parlors, and aristocratic interiors, serving both practical and decorative purposes.
Era:
Late 19th Century, circa 1880–1900
Napoleon III / Rococo Revival Period
History:
Erhard & Söhne was among the premier German manufacturers of ornate gilt metal decorative objects during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Founded in Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany, the firm became internationally respected for producing finely cast and gilded decorative wares inspired by French Louis XV and Louis XVI styles.
Their production included jewelry caskets, miniature vitrines, desk accessories, perfume stands, clock garnitures, and luxury vanity objects, many enhanced with enamel decoration, velvet interiors, and highly sculptural casting. Today, surviving examples are sought after for their craftsmanship, lavish aesthetic, and strong decorative appeal.
Provenance:
German, produced by Erhard & Söhne; acquired from an antique collection.
Materials:
Gilt metal
Champlevé enamel
Velvet-lined interior
Cast metal mounts
Hinged construction
Dimensions:
Dimensions not provided.
Disclaimers:
Displays age-related wear, rubbing, oxidation, and surface patina consistent with age and use.
Interior velvet shows expected wear and fading.
Key is not present.
Minor wear to gilding and enamel commensurate with age.
Additional Description:
An exceptionally ornate late 19th-century gilt jewelry casket attributed to Erhard & Söhne, richly decorated in the Rococo Revival taste with vivid champlevé enamel accents and elaborate cast ornamentation throughout.
The casket features a bombe-form rectangular body raised on elegant scrolling feet, lavishly adorned with deeply cast foliate scrollwork, mascaron mounts, shell motifs, and scrolling Rococo ornament. The lid and façade are inset with striking turquoise blue enamel panels decorated with stylized floral and foliate motifs in white, burgundy, navy, and green. Additional enamel cabochon-style roundels accent the corners of the lid, contributing to the jewel-like presentation typical of luxury continental decorative arts of the Napoleon III period.
The interior retains its original burgundy velvet lining, creating a sumptuous contrast against the warm gilded exterior. The underside bears an impressed maker’s mark consistent with Erhard & Söhne, the celebrated German firm known for producing high-quality gilt metal objets de vertu, caskets, inkstands, and decorative table accessories in the late 19th century.
This example reflects the firm’s mastery of French-inspired Rococo Revival design combined with precise German casting and luxurious decorative enamelwork. Pieces of this caliber were intended for refined vanity tables, parlors, and aristocratic interiors, serving both practical and decorative purposes.
Era:
Late 19th Century, circa 1880–1900
Napoleon III / Rococo Revival Period
History:
Erhard & Söhne was among the premier German manufacturers of ornate gilt metal decorative objects during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Founded in Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany, the firm became internationally respected for producing finely cast and gilded decorative wares inspired by French Louis XV and Louis XVI styles.
Their production included jewelry caskets, miniature vitrines, desk accessories, perfume stands, clock garnitures, and luxury vanity objects, many enhanced with enamel decoration, velvet interiors, and highly sculptural casting. Today, surviving examples are sought after for their craftsmanship, lavish aesthetic, and strong decorative appeal.
Provenance:
German, produced by Erhard & Söhne; acquired from an antique collection.
Materials:
Gilt metal
Champlevé enamel
Velvet-lined interior
Cast metal mounts
Hinged construction
Dimensions:
Dimensions not provided.
Disclaimers:
Displays age-related wear, rubbing, oxidation, and surface patina consistent with age and use.
Interior velvet shows expected wear and fading.
Key is not present.
Minor wear to gilding and enamel commensurate with age.