Antique Viennese Oak and Brass Jewelry Casket
With Hand-Painted Porcelain Plaque
Franz Theyer, Vienna | Circa 1895
This exceptional late 19th-century jewelry casket is now attributed to Franz Theyer, a renowned Viennese cabinetmaker active in the decorative arts scene of fin-de-siècle Austria. A pair of inset medallions on the base—one reading Franz Theyer Wien, the other noting a prize from the Grosse Münchener Medaille 1891—firmly place this piece within the circle of elite continental artisanship.
Crafted from richly grained quarter-sawn oak and dressed in bold brass strapping with riveted detailing, the form evokes a miniature treasure chest. The lid features a finely hand-painted porcelain plaque depicting a romantic floral bouquet of wild daisies, violets, and pink roses, framed in an ornate rococo-style brass cartouche.
The unlined interior allows the natural beauty of the oak to shine, bearing just faint traces of use. Originally intended as a jewelry or keepsake box, it remains a functional and decorative heirloom—ideal for storing love letters, trinkets, or antique treasures.
About the Maker:
Franz Theyer was an award-winning Viennese artisan known for high-quality woodwork and decorative boxes, often exhibited in German and Austrian fairs. The “Grosse Münchener Medaille” was a prestigious award granted at the Munich Exhibitions, signaling this box as a medal-winning design.
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Origin: Vienna, Austria (found in France)
Date: Circa 1895
Materials: Oak, brass, hand-painted porcelain
Marks: Dual medallions on base: “Franz Theyer Wien 905” and “Grosse Münchener Medaille 1891”
Condition: Excellent antique condition; minor wear consistent with age, light marks to interior
Dimensions: Approx. 7.5” W × 5” D × 3.5” h
Antique Viennese Oak and Brass Jewelry Casket
With Hand-Painted Porcelain Plaque
Franz Theyer, Vienna | Circa 1895
This exceptional late 19th-century jewelry casket is now attributed to Franz Theyer, a renowned Viennese cabinetmaker active in the decorative arts scene of fin-de-siècle Austria. A pair of inset medallions on the base—one reading Franz Theyer Wien, the other noting a prize from the Grosse Münchener Medaille 1891—firmly place this piece within the circle of elite continental artisanship.
Crafted from richly grained quarter-sawn oak and dressed in bold brass strapping with riveted detailing, the form evokes a miniature treasure chest. The lid features a finely hand-painted porcelain plaque depicting a romantic floral bouquet of wild daisies, violets, and pink roses, framed in an ornate rococo-style brass cartouche.
The unlined interior allows the natural beauty of the oak to shine, bearing just faint traces of use. Originally intended as a jewelry or keepsake box, it remains a functional and decorative heirloom—ideal for storing love letters, trinkets, or antique treasures.
About the Maker:
Franz Theyer was an award-winning Viennese artisan known for high-quality woodwork and decorative boxes, often exhibited in German and Austrian fairs. The “Grosse Münchener Medaille” was a prestigious award granted at the Munich Exhibitions, signaling this box as a medal-winning design.
—
Origin: Vienna, Austria (found in France)
Date: Circa 1895
Materials: Oak, brass, hand-painted porcelain
Marks: Dual medallions on base: “Franz Theyer Wien 905” and “Grosse Münchener Medaille 1891”
Condition: Excellent antique condition; minor wear consistent with age, light marks to interior
Dimensions: Approx. 7.5” W × 5” D × 3.5” h