A small, round, hinged porcelain trinket box with a metal ormolu mount, decorated by the Atelier Le Tallec studio in Paris for Tiffany & Co.

Because of it’s small size (often used as a pill, ring, or stamp box), Le Tallec omitted the complex, interlocking “LT” initials and the multi-letter date cypher due to the highly restricted space on the porcelain base. Instead, these diminutive “Private Stock” pieces simply feature a handwritten iron-red or 24k gold script reading “Tiffany & Co.” and “Made in France”.

This pattern is the highly coveted “Tiffany Violets” (alternatively catalogued as the “Sèvres Violet” or “Semis de Violets” series).

This specific configuration was designed mathematically by the Atelier Le Tallec master painters so that the box feels balanced and complete no matter which angle it is viewed from.

The Lid (The Focal Point) is meticulously organized using an alternating cadence: four flowers spaced evenly, separated by three gold dots. This layout ensures that as you rotate the miniature cylinder, the pattern flows continuously around the curve without an awkward “seam” where the design meets. The gold dots scattered between the flowers are painted in 24k liquid gold. This technique, called pointillé, is a direct homage to 18th-century French Royal porcelain, used to break up the empty white space and catch the light as the box is handled.

The Base (The Alternating Pattern) features a single, centrally isolated lilac flower with its green leaves et within a gold band. This minimalist approach was intentionally chosen to showcase the precision of the single flower without cluttering the small, dome-shaped porcelain surface.

Finding the box intact with its original Tiffany & Co. felt pouch and rigid turquoise outer box adds significantly to it’s value, as original packaging was strictly controlled and never sold separately.

Size: 4.4cm wide, 2.5cm high

Condition: Excellent