Flowing hair was a real visual signature of Art Nouveau design, women's faces framed by long, sweeping locks that curled and doubled as decorative border elements in their own right rather than staying separate from the surrounding pattern. This trinket tray uses that device on both sides, faces emerging from the embossed foliage and berries as if they're part of the same organic growth rather than added on top of it.
The oblong body is fluted and pierced throughout, giving the whole piece a lightness despite the density of the relief decoration, and the combination of flowers, berries and leaves alongside the figural faces makes for a design that rewards close inspection rather than reading as a single flat pattern from a distance. Vide poche trays like this were a practical bit of hallway or bedroom furniture, meant for emptying pockets of loose change and small items, dressed up with real decorative ambition despite the everyday function.
Condition notes
Good antique condition. Some wear to silvering commensurate with age; small dings along the very rim of the border; the central medallion has soldering on reverse.
