Antique French Napoleon III Silk Flower Reliquary Black Wood Frame 1408265

French Napoleon III Silk Flower Reliquary

A French Napoleon III silk flower reliquary, housed in a deep oval ebonized wood frame with a convex glass front and a gilt brass inner bezel. This type of framed floral display was a popular form of decorative mourning or commemorative art in mid-to-late 19th-century France, often created to preserve wedding bouquet flowers or funeral tributes under glass as a lasting keepsake.

The arrangement consists of small fabric and silk flowers in muted tones of white, lilac, dusty mauve, and sage green, including daisy-form blooms, rounded buds, and foliage crafted from fabric and ribbon. The stems are gathered and tied with a pale green silk ribbon bow at the base. The background is a cream dotted fabric, slightly aged. The ebonized wood frame has a pronounced curved profile and retains a good gloss finish with minor surface wear consistent with age. On the reverse, a paper label reads "Garance, Objets d'Art, Cadeaux, 38 Rue de Paris, Lille" -- indicating the piece was sold through a Lille art and gift shop, a detail that confirms its French provincial origin and period retail context.

The frame measures approximately 18.5cm x 16cm / 7.3" x 6.3". The frame has notable depth due to the convex glass dome, measuring approximately 3.5cm / 1.4" deep. These dimensions are as stated by the seller.

A French Napoleon III silk flower reliquary of this type appeals to collectors of Victorian and Second Empire decorative arts, as well as to interior decorators seeking period wall pieces. The Lille retailer label adds documentary value to the piece.

95% of my items are tariff-free to the US.

Do you like this item? Then visit the All products collection to see more items!