A rare, finely hand-painted porcelain boîte à brosses (toothbrush/comb box), sarcophagus necessaire, of elongated oval form.
The box features an elaborate Louis XVI / Rococo Revival design, showcasing tightly wound polychrome summer floral garlands intertwined with a stylized purple ribbon highlighted by hand-applied black and gilt geometric scrolling.
The lid and base borders are finished in a vibrant, rich turquoise ground (bleu céleste) accented by exceptional, heavy burnished gilding.
The lid is surmounted by an integral, elegant loop handle detailed with scroll terminals.
Dimensions:
20.5 cm (Length) x 8.5 cm (Width) x 7.0 cm (Height).
Markings:
Base: Deeply incised serif mold/batch number "25" stamped into the raw paste; faint ghosts/shadows of an underglaze cobalt blue workshop signature (consistent with the J.P. cipher) alongside minor remnants of overglaze iron-red/magenta fractional marks.
Lid Interior: Hand-painted overglaze magenta decorator/tally mark "6" along the unglazed inner nested rim.
Condition:
Body & Base: Pristine antique condition.
Complete structural integrity. Free from chips, cracks, flea bites, hairlines, or professional restorations.
Glaze: Excellent.
The hand-painted floral panels remain highly vivid with no noticeable scuffing, scratches, or loss.
Gilding: Highly preserved throughout.
Exhibits only minimal, expected handling wear consistent with age, primarily along the lower contact rim of the base.
Lid Handle: Features a very tight, stable, micro-hairline glaze check running vertically across the center of the upper loop.
Note for buyers: This line is entirely smooth to the touch, cannot be felt with a finger, and exhibits absolute zero structural movement under direct pressure. It is a classic production-era kiln contraction line (firing fissure) frozen under the clear glaze coat, not an impact break.
It remains entirely stable and completely secure for normal display and handling.