Counter box

This object is a carved ivory counter box containing 29 gaming counters, produced around 1740–1760 and possibly made in Paris by Mariaval le Jeune. The box is decorated using a wax-resist staining technique, primarily in green, complemented by paint and penwork imitating engraving. When closed, it measures 1.6 cm in height, 8 cm in width, and 5.8 cm in depth over its brass hinges. The underside features a panel with three flower heads and corner floral decoration. Its hinged lid includes a central revolving dial painted with a red diamond that reveals numerals through a heart-shaped piercing, flanked by oval penwork scenes showing a man with a bottle and glass and a man with a tambourine. The lid interior displays a floral panel with two doves and is inscribed "Mariaval le Jeune à Paris fecit".

The box contains an incomplete set of 29 counters of an original 35, decorated in matching green resist, paint, and black penwork. These comprise 18 long rectangular counters with canted corners and pinholes (6.4 cm by 0.9 cm), four shorter rectangular counters bearing the numerals 10, 30, 40, or 50 (2.3 cm by 1.2 cm), and seven circular counters (2.3 cm in diameter). The circular counters feature varying emblems and French mottoes on their faces, such as a knight's helmet inscribed "Je garentis" and various heart motifs.