Italian Rectangular Box, 1970s

Italy, 1970s. In the same spirit as faux tortoiseshell lacquer paired with chrome metal, this rectangular box takes the motif in a more sunlit, amber direction, with an interior dressed in velvet. The chrome metal body frames a lid covered in an amber faux tortoiseshell lacquer, with warm, marbled swirls. On each side of the lid, a light patina has settled into the lacquer over time — a discreet charm that speaks to the piece's authenticity and age, without ever detracting from it. Inside, the interior is lined in deep green velvet, which contrasts with the shine of the metal and the golden tone of the lid. Good condition: the metal shows a few marks of use, nothing serious, the velvet remains in good condition, and the faux tortoiseshell lacquer — patinated at the edges — is remarkably preserved across the surface. At 29 cm long by 10.5 cm wide and 4 cm high, this box, longer and more slender than its wood-interior counterpart, sits on a desk or console. A precious object, somewhere between silversmithing and Italian decorative art of the seventies.