The Chinese embroidery on silk here is very lovely, but what makes this really special feeling to me is the manner in which it was cased--set under heavy glass, with a deep lip, and gold trim around the edges matching the gold trim on the embroidery, which turns it into an object, I think likely meant to be used as a small tray for jewelry and the like. As such it feels quite Victorian, akin to doily lined glass boxes and domed wax worlds, and I am pretty sure dates to the same period, 1870s-90s, though the silk embroidered segments could be a somewhat older than that. Useable as a tray now or propped on its side like a picture, with really beautiful variegated color on the embroidery, especially the dyed silk ground.
8 1/16" x 3 1/8" x 5/8" and in very good condition. Not fragile, exterior trim is in very good shape, not at all loose or fraying.
