Impressive golden French pre-Victorian needle case with original needle

Absolute incredible, the quality of this needle case that still has its original needle. The needle has a little spoon at the end that was used either as ear spoon or snuff spoon. The needle is nicely cut ajour (open work) showing a flower hidden in the little framework of the needle. On the outside of the needle case there is a fencing of wreaths that are executed in green and red gold on a background of yellow gold. The both ends of the needle case are skilfully elaborated with acanthus leaves showing us the influence of the classical style that was so much in fashion in France in the beginning of the 19th Century.

Antique jewelry object group: sewing utensils
Country of origin: France
Style: Empire - (styles overview)
Style specifics: A style that borrowed style specifics from the ancient Greeks and the Roman empire (hence the name of the style: Empire). The empire period represents the second part of the Neo-Classical style, and shows a strong French influence. The style originated in the desire of to revive the luxurious majesty of imperial Rome. Traditional classical motifs, already seen in the reign of Louis XVI, were supplemented by symbols of imperial grandeur- the emperor's monogram and his emblem, the bee; representations of military trophies; and after the successful campaigns in Egypt, Egyptian motifs. If we had to characterize this style briefly, we could focus on two elementary concepts: massiveness and symmetry.
Period: ca. 1819 (events and facts in 1819)
Source of inspiration: Mother Nature, see also flower symbolism
Theme: wreaths and acanthus leaves
Material: 18K tri-color (red, yellow, green) gold (in France in the 19th Century, goldsmiths used no less then 29 colors of gold!) - (precious metals)
More background information on: georgian, romanticism, empire, classical jewelry
Hallmarks: The French control mark representing an ram's head that was in use in France from about 1817. - (general hallmarks info)
Condition: extremely good condition - (our condition scale)
Dimensions: Length needle case approximately 8.33 cm (3.28 inch), lenght needle approximately 6.75 cm (2.66 inch)
Weight: 10.10 gram (6.49 dwt)

ReferenceNº: 08328-4196

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