Sunday, January 8, 2012

Gifts of Grandeur: A (Naughty) Automaton Box of Gold, 1820

The Victoria & Albert Museum


With its delicately decorated case of scrolling foliage and a classically rendered musical trophy, no one could tell that the interior of this precious box holds an erotic scene.  In fact, that’s the only purpose for the box—just to hold this saucy animation. 

The cover of the gold case is chased and set with a band of opaque blue enamel with foliage.  It all looks so innocent and elegant—until you look inside.  The animated scene shows a standing nude couple, um…enjoying each other, before an altar, as a bystander plays a lyre—as one does.









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