A dragee box, early 19th century, with a decoration on the lid depicting an elegantly dressed couple

Box for dragees, early 19th century, with a decoration on the lid depicting an elegantly dressed couple standing in a garden with a balustrade on the left and stairs on the right, set against an architectural background. The scene is framed by an ivory-coloured border, with minimal paint loss, connected to the scene by a gold edging. The box is made entirely of cardboard, with two brass rings at the ends and printed, gold cardboard ribbons on the edges. The decoration is made using the fixé sous verre method, which is a watercolour print fixed under glass. France, early 19th century.

These are valuable packages for sugar-coated almonds, sold as gifts or for special occasions. A characteristic feature of these packages is their decoration placed under glass, reflecting the changes in style and taste of the era. Their proliferation went hand in hand with the growth and desire to mark their presence in the markets of confectionery companies, which were rapidly developing at the time. Interestingly, in the production of sweets, attention was always consistently paid to what we now colloquially call packaging, focusing primarily on the value of the packaging, even before its contents. Hence the use of ornaments, gilding, twisted silks, printed milk to resemble valuables. Here are a few national names that capture the essence of the phenomenon: in Turin, the kingdom of chocolate, Caffarel Prochet was born in 1826, and Leone in 1878. In 1888, Lazzaroni & Figli was founded in Saronno. In 1900, SAIWA (Società Accomandita Industria Wafer Affini) was established in Genoa, allowing the confectionery industry to spread throughout the country and Europe.

Confectionery products were sold in wholesale quantities, but soon exclusive products were created for events and celebrations; In this segment are Boite à Dragées (confetti boxes), which we present in this collection, where fixed sous verre decorations depict romantic or rural scenes. Made of cardboard, they have an edge adorned with printed and gilded paper ribbon with Greek or leafy motifs; The interior can be divided into compartments. All were made in France between the end of the 18th century and the first decades of the 19th century.

Original Empire style furniture dates from the period between the end of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century. It all stemmed from the reign of Napoleon. There, a significant resemblance and references to Roman and Greek decorations were imposed.

Classicist furniture is the style of Louis XVI, which also strongly refers to ancient architecture. Interesting and noteworthy are all antique products in the Rococo and Louis XV styles. Next is the Baroque, whose name comes from the Portuguese barocco – which translates to an irregularly developed pearl. These were very representative pieces of furniture, which were literally meant to drip with glamour and play a significant role in luxury. Exceptional, selectively used materials were employed to further emphasise the lofty tone of these products.

Today we can observe how much influence the Baroque style had on today's classic furniture, which is designed with great similarity to the past era. Another significant style is the Renaissance, which flourished in the 15th and 16th centuries and also had a significant impact on the art of furniture making. The Renaissance style was quite heavy and massive. Brown stains were used, as well as cornices, strong plinths, and bas-reliefs. It can certainly be said that these were quite specific products, but they offered many new possibilities such as the construction of sideboards, or generally broadly understood chest furniture. Here, too, there was an interest in mythology and ancient times, so supports or legs took on animal forms.

Lion's paws, eagle's heads – this is a common sight in the Renaissance style. Currently, many global brands recreate such furniture, taking examples from Italian or French creators. This is a manifestation of admiration and care for the history of the most beautiful Renaissance antiques. It is important to remember that in each country, furniture making was perceived differently, so each style in a given country had its own distinct character. This is very important, especially when searching for the right luxury antique for your interior.

The most important aspect of stylish antique furniture is originality. This is ultimately crucial from the customer's perspective, as there are many counterfeits circulating in the market. Luxury Products provides a document confirming the product's compliance with the actual description and photo. We have art appraisers, historians, and experts from around the world at your disposal.