Antique Swiss Fôret Noir Edelweiss Wooden Box

Found at market in Paris, we are pleased to offer this fabulously carved wooden Fôret Noir box from the Swiss river wonder the Aareschlucht (Aare Gorge), a one-mile stretch where the river carves through limestone cliffs rising up to 160 feet, with the narrowest section just over three feet wide. A stunning sight, the gorge is a popular tourist attraction, with many visitors also exploring the nearby Reichenbach Falls, immortalized in fiction as the setting of Sherlock Holmes’ (briefly) fatal encounter with Professor Moriarty.

Crafted in great detail, we are particularly taken by the intricate woodworking and the remarkable artistry, featuring a highly detailed rendering of the iconic edelweiss flower as its main centerpiece. Edelweiss—the national flower of several countries, including Switzerland—is a scarce, short-lived bloom, beloved for its association with the remote mountain areas of the Alps and Carpathians. According to folk tradition, giving the flower to a loved one is a promise of dedication. No less an august figure than Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I chose to make this the first flower he ever picked himself, presenting it to his wife, the famed beauty Empress Elisabeth (Sisi), who was later painted with precious jeweled edelweiss stars braided in her hair. Also a symbol of alpinists and mountaineers, it represents resilience, daring, and hardiness in extreme conditions.

With a natural and charming aesthetic, delicately crafted flowers and leaves, and silken pink and red felt lining, this find is truly a work of art. Sure to lovingly keep your precious jewelry and handsome belongings in true fashion, this lasting souvenir is at once rustic and refined, sharing its naturalistic beauty even still.

Strictly one-of-a-kind and subject to prior sale. In very good antique condition with signs of age and use along the interior. 9.5"W x 5.75"L x 4"H.