Early 1800s French Pastry Box with a decoration on the lid of a couple in love in a rural landscape with architecture in the background, elegantly. The box is entirely made of cardboard with two brass ferrules on the ends and printed and gilded cardboard ribbons on the edges. The decoration is fixé sous verre, that is, a watercolor print fixed under glass. France, early decades of the 1800s, in good condition with minimal color fading in the background.
These are precious packages for holding sugared almonds that were sold as gifts or for special occasions, characterized by their under-glass decorations that trace the change in style and taste of an era. Their spread goes hand in hand with the growth and desire for affirmation in the markets of confectionery companies, which were expanding rapidly at the time. It is curious to note how attention to what we commonly call packaging today has always had a consistent use in confectionery manufacturing, focusing substantially on the preciousness of the container even before the content. Hence the use of decorations, gilding, curled silks, and printed milk imitating precious coffers. Some national names to give substance to the phenomenon: in Turin, the kingdom of chocolate, Caffarel Prochet was born in 1826, Leone in 1878. In Saronno in 1888 Lazzaroni & Figli was born. In Genoa in 1900 SAIWA (Società Accomandita Industria Wafer Affini) was founded, and thus the confectionery industry spread and flourished throughout the country and in Europe.
Confectionery products were sold loose, but soon high-end products were created for events and celebrations; in this segment are the Boite à Dragées (sugared almond boxes) that we present in this collection, in which the fixié sous verre decorations depict gallant or rural scenes. Made of cardboard, they have an edge decorated with a printed and gilded paper ribbon with Greek or foliage motifs; the interior can be divided into compartments. They were all produced in France between the late 1700s and the early decades of the 1800s.
Period: 1800
Height: 2.2 cm
Diameter: 14 cm
art. A1050t
