Antique Russian silver-gilt and cloisonné enamel carnet de bal

This beautiful carnet de bal dates from the late 19^th Century. A carnet de bal is simply a card used to record the sequence of an evening’s dances, as well as each dance’s attendant dance partner. Beginning in the 1820s, elaborate cases were developed to hold bunches of these dance cards, and the name carnet de bal has since been applied to these cases. Such cases became a means of demonstrating wealth and status, and as such required beautiful and luxurious decoration. This present carnet de bal is an exquisite example.

Produced in Russia, this carnet de bal is rectangular in shape with a hinged cover and is closable with a silver-gilt clasp. The body is silver-gilt and profusely decorated with cloisonné enamelwork. The cloisons, which are formed into scrolling arabesques, heart-shaped medallions bounding foliate forms, and circular beads, are infilled with enamel in shades of red, lilac, and white, all set above a light blue enamel ground.

The piece is marked with the silver mark ‘88’, which designates 916 grade silver.