Passed
Click image to enlarge
Description
13" (33 cm.) diameter box. A circular box with elaborately-woven sides and lid,and having tooled leather straps,contains an exceptional roulette toy inside. At the center of the fitted box with gilt-edged compartments is the roulette wheel,itself,of mahogany wood with pedestal base,its surface decorated with lithographed scenes of a race track. Arranged around the wheel on original soft rose cotton puffs are a series of miniature prizes,each of them of exquisitely-carved bone,in a size appropriate for display with a classic poupee. These include: pin-cushion with green velvet cushion,horse quirt,ball and stick game,croquet set,three sets of jeu de quilles in different sizes or colors,pocket watch,mirrors and combs,candle sticks,opera glass,bone-handled stamp with impressed seal,two candle holders,egg-shaped darner,napkin rings,spinning tops,table saw,pick tool,and more. Superb unplayed with condition,Paris,circa 1860,the elaborate original box bears the label of Maison Alphonse Giroux on the inside lid. The Giroux store was noted for its luxury goods; a history of Maison Giroux appears in The Encyclopedia of French Dolls by Theimer,pp 250-253.