Violin; France, 20th century

Violin; France, 20th century
Glazed porcelain; bronze
Measurements: 34 x 12 x 6 cm.

A decorative box or jewelry box shaped like a violin, made of glazed porcelain; the piece was likely crafted in the Sèvres or Limoges style. The piece is a scaled-down reproduction of the string instrument’s form: the hinged lid features cobalt-blue enamel framed by garlands and rocaille motifs, with an oval cartouche at the center depicting a cherub floating among clouds. The fingerboard, the string pin, and the side panel of the body are hallmarks of contrast against a white background, adorned with small floral garlands, while the tuning pegs, the scroll, and the contours of the body are highlighted with gold fillets.

The fascination with replicating musical instruments in ceramics began in the 18th century with the rise of Delftware and hard-paste porcelain in centers such as Meissen, Nevers, and Rouen, where life-size violins were even molded as trompe-l’œil or as masterful demonstration pieces. With the advent of Neoclassicism and the Second Empire style during the 19th and 20th centuries, French manufacturers such as Sèvres, Samson, and various workshops in Limoges adapted this iconographic whim to the creation of small, exotic boxes, sewing kits, and jewelry boxes.