Blue Urn on Base Hand-Painted Limoges Box

A blue urn set on its own base gives this porcelain box the bearing of a garden ornament from a French chateau. It is a hand-painted Limoges box, made in Limoges, France, with a classical silhouette.

A Classical Silhouette

Urns have decorated gardens, mantels and staircases since ancient times, and their shape still signals grace and order. Here the form is scaled down to a small box, with the base giving it height and presence. The blue keeps the look calm and refined rather than heavy.

Chateau on the Mantel

This piece looks right on a mantel between candlesticks, on a console in a front hall or on the top shelf of a china cabinet. It pairs well with blue and white porcelain and with other classical shapes such as columns and obelisks. A pair of urns, if you find a match, makes an elegant symmetrical display.

• Hand-painted porcelain from Limoges, France
• Fits a classical, French chateau or blue-themed collection
• Stands well on a mantel, console or china cabinet shelf

A Gracious Present

Give it as a housewarming present for a home with traditional style, a thank-you for a generous host, or a birthday surprise for someone who loves French antiques. It also suits a garden club member or an admirer of formal European gardens. Few shapes feel as timelessly at home in a well-kept room.