metal boxes

copper box with the crest of MONTBELIARD*
19th century, found at the Porte-de-Vanves flea market
[15 x 7.5 cm wide x 6 cm high/7.5 cm with the feet]

detail of crowned headless bird [eagle?] on the sides;
a pattern of the double crossed Croix de Lorraine** on top of the lid and on the front and back sides;
the lock is missing its key;
original tufted red satin cushion still lines the bottom of the inside

CAD/US$500/Euros350






*MONTBELIARD is located in eastern France in the Doubs département of the Franche-Comté region...distinguished by the Château des Ducs de Wurtemberg and the Peugeot car manufacturing plant, now running out of gas...?

**The Cross of Lorraine was the heraldic cross of the Dukes of Lorraine, the region bordering Alsace to the east, and north of the Franche-Comté... it was also held as a symbol for Joan of Arc and during the second World War was adopted as the official symbol by the Free French Forces.

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"CHOCOLAT MENIER"* bronzy [brass?] lidded box

late19th/early 20th century, found at the St-Ouen flea market

[12.5 x 8.5 cm wide x 5.5 cm high]

CAD/US$200/Euros140

*Chocolat MENIER was founded in 1816 in Paris by the Menier family as a pharmaceutical aside from their hardware company, and the chocolate was only used sparingly as a medicinal product to coat the bitter pills! After almost 150 years in business, the Menier family lost control of their company and had to sell it in 1960, eventually being brought into the Swiss Nestlé S.A. concern of today. [The chocolate producing factory that was built in Noisiel in 1825, and became the largest chocolate manufacturer in 19th century France, expanded in 1872 with "an iconic iron and brick factory building of the Industrial Revolution", which is now designated as an official "Monument historique" and will soon be included as a UNESCO World Heritage site.]

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"K.L.G " painted tin lidded box

[I am not sure what K.L.G stands for and what had been stored inside this little box]

19th century?/early 20th century?, found at a brocante outside of Paris

[9 x 3.5 cm wide x 3 cm high]

CAD/US$50/Euros35

"PRIX IMPOSE

EXIGER LA BANDE DE GARANTIE"

printed on the front edge of the lid

"FABRIQUE EN FRANCE

STAD[?] LET[????] & [?]OUSSIN, MONTREUIL"

printed on the back edge of the lid