This is an original, early Victorian reverse painted ring or trinket box, almost certainly made as a souvenir to mark the opening of the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park, London, & dating to 1851.

The Great Exhibition, or the Crystal Palace Exhibition as it's more commonly known (in reference to the specially constructed building in which it was held), was an international exhibition that took place in Hyde Park, London, from the 1st May until the 15th October 1851.

The hinged box is rectangular in form & is made from gilt plated metal, with the sides being decorated with a raised acanthus scroll against a ribbed background, with a gadrooned top edge. The box sits on four, Rococo style embossed shell bracket feet.

The top of the box is mounted with a deep, beveled glass plaque, onto which, there is a stunning reverse painting of the Crystal Palace. The reverse painting has been backed with a silvered or metal foil, representing the glass within the building , & giving the painting an iridescence.

The top hinges open via a scroll catch, to reveal a woven silk lined interior & a fitted mirror to the lid.

Condition is fantastic for it's 160 years. The gilt plating has only minor rubbing to the extremities, & the reverse painting is, amazingly, still vibrant with strong, bright colours & has only suffered a few small spots of loss. The interior lining has some staining & the original mirror has the expected, age related surface pitting.

Overall, an extremely scarce box in Fine condition for it's 160 years.