Antique 18th-Century French Faux Book Hidden Box / Jewelry Box / Chocolate Box

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Antique 18th-Century French Faux Book Hidden Box / Jewelry Box / Chocolate Box:
$375.00

This is an antique hidden compartment book box. Made from a pair of French 18th-century books (the Georgiques of Virgil, 1770; volume 16 of the Dictionnaire Historique). Leather with gilt tooling; the upper, Georgiques have a medallion with a crown and three fleur de lys in gold. Inside, the Georgiques also have an early inscription -- dating from when the book was appreciated as a book -- of some verses from of the translator\'s memorial. Post 18th-century, the books were turned into a box with a hidden compartment, lined with marbled paper. The stamp on the inside cover reads \"A la Marquise de Sevigne, Paris\" -- a famous (still extant) chocolate shop. Could the box have been made or appropriated by the chocolate shop for clients to better hide their bonbons? 8 1/4\" by 5 1/4\" by 2 1/4\".