Viennese enamel, silver, rock crystal and lapis lazuli casket

This stunning lapis lazuli casket is a truly spectacular work by one of Vienna's foremost goldsmiths and enamellers, Hermann Boehm (Austrian, active from 1866). Boehm is widely regarded as one of the finest practitioners of late 19th Century Viennese enamel, especially for his lapidary and enamelled works in the neo-Renaissance style.

The present casket is an apt demonstration of Boehm's superb technical abilities: intricately and elaborately decorated with coloured enamels, gemstones, and silver, every detail is meticulously rendered in a fantastic array of precious polychrome materials.

The casket takes an architectural form, and is built from panels of lapis lazuli. Around the rectangular base there are inset panels of polychrome enamel, with pearls mounted into the centre of each. Above, the body of the casket is surrounded with rock crystal pilasters which are delicately mounted with beaded bands of silver.

The body is also inset with enamelled niches showing figures, and there are further figures at the top of each rock crystal pilaster. The top of the casket features further inset enamelled panels, and the hinged casket lid is surmounted by enamelled king and queen figures, shown sitting on a throne with a dog by their side.

The edges of the piece are mounted with thin bands of silver; and there are silver marks and makers' marks for Hermann Bohm on the inside of the casket. The casket also comes housed in its original leather case, with the following dimensions:

Casket height 27cm, width 28cm, depth 20cm
Case height 30cm, width 33cm, depth 25cm