An Art Nouveau gold box by Rene Lalique

the sides of the botryoidal shaped large yellow gold box are chased all around in low relief with an elaborate frieze
of undulating fronds, above a wave formed form green enamel cloisons, the hinged gold lid mounted
with a pate de verre panel depicting a crouching nude, her arms metamorphosing into scrolling floral
fronds, surmounted by an arc of peridots enamelled above with green fronds against a blue
ground and below by a further wave of blue enamel cloisons.

Engraved 'LALIQUE', stamped with Lalique's posicion
and the french assay mark for gold .

13.5 cm wide by 3.4 cm high..

This box is instructive both in terms of the subject matter and the materials, which Lalique has chosen for its
execution. The motif of the dryad, a spirit of the woodland, rendered here as a naked female unites two of the artist's
central themes, women and nature. The significant use of a large cast glass panel in a piece designed primarily
around precious materials heralds the shift that Lalique's career was about to took just after this period. From
producing exquisitely crafted jewels in precious metals and enamel to working in glass.