Halcyon Days Enamel Box – Hermitage Museum “Louis XVI, the Sun King” Design

A fine Halcyon Days Enamel rectangular trinket box, handcrafted in Bilston, England, in collaboration with The State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg. This exquisite piece forms part of the Halcyon Days Museum Series, designed and fired in the traditional English enamelling style revived from the 18th century.

Its richly colored floral decoration is inspired by a French late-17th-century silk-embroidered chasuble created in the grand style of the court of Louis XVI, the Sun King. The design is meticulously applied to enamel on copper, framed by gilt-metal mounts, and kiln-fired for a lustrous finish. The interior lid bears an inscription describing its design source, while the underside carries both the Halcyon Days Enamels and Hermitage Museum marks.

Halcyon Days—holder of multiple Royal Warrants—continues the Georgian enamelling tradition established in Bilston and Battersea. Each piece is handcrafted and individually fired, echoing the artistry of 18th-century English masters. This example includes its original fitted presentation box and booklet, “The Revival of a Traditional English 18th-Century Craft,” detailing the historical background of the craft and its revival by Halcyon Days.

Condition
Good, no damage. Vivid enamels, intact hinge, and bright gilt fittings with only minor handling wear. Presentation box and booklet included and in good order.

Dimensions 
Presentation Box: 1 ½ in × 4 in × 3 in
Trinket Box: 1 in × 2 in × 1 ½ in
Weight: 1.7 oz