Ground Tortoishell Box with Gold and Erotic Miniature on Ivory

Round box made of ground tortoishell, which imitates porphyry, with a removable lid decorated with a miniature on ivory. The miniature portrays the abduction of Io the nymph by Jupiter. The eagle in the scene is one of Jupiter’s symbols. The god, who is coming out of the clouds, is seizing Io, who is nude and in full view. Cupid’s arrow has flown. This miniature is reminiscent of a drawing by Fragonard that is conserved at the Musée d’Angers.
The miniature is ringed with a gold mounting and a star motif. The interior of the box is lined with brown tortoishell.

Diameter: 3 in (7.5 cm) / Height: 1 in (2.5 cm)

Late 18th century craftsmanship.