Pin Box

c. 1880

A pin box (Continental, c. 1880) made of silver with ornate repoussé decorations. The Rococo Revival decorations of the box lid recall the subject of artist Jean-Honoré Fragonard’s (1732-1806) artwork “The Swing” by depicting a woman in 18th century clothing on a swing. A man helps the woman on the swing while another couple sit in the grass off to the left side. Surrounding the couples is a pastoral view with sheep, trees, flowers, and a distant town in the mountains. Foliate and C-scroll designs frame the scene and are bordered with a double helix pattern. The sides of the box are banded with a continuous vine of leaves between a beaded border. Stamped into the underside of the box are two marks, one a passant lion facing left, the other the letter “M” or “W” within a triangle.

Continental

silver

1.81" x 3.5" x 2.5"

Gift of Mrs. Alletta Smith Cooper, 2003

PSNC.10264