{"product_id":"keller-paris-art-deco-brown-lacquer-and-gilt-sterling-silver-box","title":"Keller Paris Art Deco Brown Lacquer and Gilt Sterling Silver Box","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is an original antique Art Deco box from the Paris house of Keller, made of gilt sterling silver and dating to around 1920. The top and sides are finished in brown lacquer laid on in shifting shades, from deep chocolate to warm amber, with a cloudy, streaked effect that is vaguely reminiscent of tortoise shell. Slim silver borders frame the lacquered panels and give the box its clean, architectural outline, with softly faceted corners that are typical of the period.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLifting the hinged lid reveals a gilt silver interior that glows a warm gold against the brown exterior. The underside carries the maker's inscription, Keller Paris, along with a maker's mark and the conjoined boar's head and eagle's head, the French hallmarks for 925 silver and 18 karat gold. Together these mixed hallmarks are used on pieces combining the two metals, where the secondary metal accounts for at least three percent of the total weight.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Keller firm was founded in 1856 by Gustave Keller, whose simple, elegant designs were quickly admired for their quality. He won a gold and a silver medal at the 1867 and 1878 Paris World Exhibitions, and after 1878 the Keller brothers succeeded him, taking a gold medal in 1889 and a Grand Prix in 1900. Lucien Falize wrote in 1889 that everything stamped Keller is good. The house supplied several courts, including Spain, Russia, Greece and Romania, and from 1897 the last Tsar regularly bought pieces from the Parisian silversmith.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThere are some light scratches, but for its age the box is in very fine condition. It measures about 3 1\/8 x 2 3\/8 x 1\/2 inches, made in France, and is a rare, well documented piece of Art Deco silver for a collector of Paris silversmiths.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Collectors Gene","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50308707451018,"sku":null,"price":1210.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0639\/1247\/6810\/files\/Keller_Paris_Art_Deco_Brown_Lacquer_and_Gilt_Sterling_Silver_Box_7.jpg?v=1791525478","url":"https:\/\/cameronsteiner.com\/products\/keller-paris-art-deco-brown-lacquer-and-gilt-sterling-silver-box","provider":"Cameron Steiner","version":"1.0","type":"link"}