• Width:
  14 Inches
• Height:
  8 1/2 Inches
• Depth:
  8 1/2 Inches
• Period:
  19th Century
• Origin:
  France

This rare and important French kingwood box by Jean-Pierre Alexander Tahan is as versatile as it is beautiful. Crafted of luxurious kingwood, it can be used both as a jewelry box, complete with velvet-lined dividers, or as a humidor for one's finest Cuban cigars. Inside, four separate, perforated trays swing out, providing ease of access and revealing a lower compartment. Outside, the box is embellished with silver metal mounts that are delicately etched with fine detail complementing the highly figured kingwood. Kingwood is a handsome, exotic Brazilian wood often used for the finest furniture. Its name comes from the fact that it was the preferred wood of the kings of France in the 18th century. To find such a beautifully crafted box made from this prized material by such a renowned maker is quite rare. Features the original key. Jean-Pierre Tahan was the son of the Alphonse Tahan, ébéniste to Napoleon III. Jean-Pierre continued the legacy of his father, and his business in Paris was celebrated for its imaginative, exhibition-quality work. Stamped "Tahan/Paris" on lock Circa 1875 14" wide x 8½" deep x 8½" high