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Art Deco Silver and Wood Playing Card Box, Ottaviani of Italy
Item # 3997
Measurements
10" W x 6" D x 2" T
Price (USD)
$ 950
A beautifully executed Art Deco playing card and gaming box,crafted in Italy by the design company Ottaviani. The design features two sculpted silver panels with stylized geometric profiles of elegant female faces with hints in the form of aces.clubs. hearts and diamonds. These are rendered in classic Cubist-inspired relief mode. Each lid slides smoothly open to reveal compartments for cards and gaming chips, lined in hardwood that accentuates the contrast between metal and wood.
The silver panels are impressed with the number 925 and the Italian maker’s marks, Ottaviani was well known for their refined metalwork and for combining silver with fine exotic woods. Authentic bakelite gambling chips have been included in the center compartment and the playing cards are a special set made in Vienna.
This rare box is not only a functional object for card play but also an elegant example of Art Deco design where geometry, luxury materials, and modern artistry meet. Pieces of this quality reflect the best of Italian decorative craftsmanship between and are increasingly sought by collectors for both display and use.
