VINTAGE 800 SILVER GILDED ITALIAN ENAMEL ENAMELED PORTRAIT LIPSTICK HOLDER CASE BOX

This lipstick holder is unusual because this beautiful little piece has a very different hand painted enameled scene. Thanks to the knowledge of fellow collector KIWIPAUL this scene is after the famous Pre-Raphaelite picture of Dante and Beatrice, by Henry Holiday? See a pic of the original here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatrice_Portinari#mediaviewer/File:Dante_and_beatrice.jpg and for more info see the Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatrice_Portinari
The portrait area is flanked by two hand painted panels of faux lapis-lazuli and a hard stone cabochon that appears to also be lapis-lazuli. The remainder of the case is ornately done with skillful and elaborate hand chased scrolls overall to the silver. The end of the case slides open to reveal a tiny mirror and access to the lipstick. All of this is held together by the lapis-lazuli cabochon.
This piece has overall vermeil (gold) gilding covering the silver. The lipstick holder consists of three parts. First is a small, hollow cylindrical piece into which the actual piece of lipstick fits. This is the piece to which the cabochon is attached. This small cylindrical piece then fits inside the larger square lipstick holder which in turn slides inside the exterior case. The exterior case has a hinged pop-up mirror that is designed so it is held closed by the cabochon. It also has the number “800”. The 800 indicates 800 parts pure silver, a grade slightly below sterling (925 parts silver). A fine quality beautiful and desirable piece!
AGE AND CONDITION: The piece dates to circa 1920-1930s.
APPROXIMATE DIMENSIONS: The piece is about 2.25” (5.7 cm) long by about .75” (1.9 cm) thick and is about .75” (1.9 cm) in height.
APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: 38 grams.