Antique Bohemian glass casket in Chinoiserie style

This elegant rectangular casket was crafted in 19^th century Bohemia, a historical region that has long been associated with producing exceptional glass products. The body and lid of the casket are crafted from clear glass. The casket has a hinged cover mounted with gilt metal around the rim, which opens via a keyhole to reveal the interior.

The casket is overlaid around the sides and top with oval and octagonal-shaped white enamel panels, that have been painted with animal and figurative scenes. The longest two sides of the box feature figurative scenes in the Chinoiserie style, set within oval panels. On the obverse, a figure sits on a tree branch and feeds a perching heron, whilst on the reverse is a figure fishing. Both figures are surrounded by trees and other foliage, rendered in an impressive sketched manner. The branches on which both figures sit extend into framing gilt scrollwork. With similar designs bordering the outside of the panels, this cleverly connects the figurative scenes to the decorative scheme of the piece as a whole. The two smaller octagonal side panels feature herons set within similar foliate landscapes.

Separating the panels are the corners of the casket, which also feature white enamel panels. These are decorated with abstract green detailing reminiscent of the foliate designs elsewhere on the casket.  

The lid of the casket is similarly bordered with white panels decorated with green motifs. In the centre, a gilt fruit basket is ensconced in an oval cartouche filled with floral wreaths. As with the oval panels on the body below, scrolling gilt designs protrude from each of the four corners of the cartouche.

This impressive decorative piece would be a fine addition to any collection of antiques, showcasing the superb quality of Bohemian glass in the 19^th century.