Tortoiseshell And Ivory Casket With An Erotic Genre Scene. Europe, 19th Century

A rare 19th century cabinet casket, crafted from genuine tortoiseshell and richly embellished with applied ivory inlay in the form of elegant scrolling arabesques. The rectangular body is surmounted by a hinged lid inset with a finely executed watercolour miniature on ivory, enclosed within a gilt brass surround. The miniature depicts a refined genre scene with a subtle erotic undertone, characteristic of European salon art of the nineteenth century. A young woman with her breast partially exposed has abandoned her book and, absorbed in thoughts of her absent lover, contemplates his portrait miniature held delicately in her hand. Behind her chair stands a vigilant nun, scrutinising the young woman through a magnifying glass, lending the composition a theatrical wit and gentle irony. Such allegorical subjects, juxtaposing sensuality, romantic longing and moral restraint, were highly appreciated by collectors during the Historicist period. The miniature bears a signature, tentatively read as Bauman or Baumann. Marks: Signed, apparently Bauman or Baumann, on the miniature. The attribution of the signature requires further research. Dimensions: Length: 12 cm. Width: 8 cm. Height: 6.5 cm. Condition: Good condition, consistent with age. Minor traces of age and handling. Provenance: Private Collection.