Violin and Pink Hat Music Limoges Box

A violin rests beside a lady's pink hat on this porcelain box, as though a musician has just set them down after an afternoon concert. It is a hand-painted Limoges box made in Limoges, France, pairing music and fashion in one small scene.

Strings and a Sunday Bonnet

The combination is what makes this piece memorable. A violin alone speaks to music, and a hat alone to style, but together they suggest a garden party, a summer recital or a stroll after the last bow. Each element is brushed on by hand, so the shading of the pink and the instrument differs from box to box.

Encore Gifts

• Hand-painted porcelain from Limoges, France
• Fits a music, violin or ladies' fashion grouping
• Pairs with piano, sheet music and handbag pieces

A Long Line of Painted Boxes

Many Limoges boxes are painted by hand after the white porcelain is fired, and their metal mounts are fitted by hand as well. That patient process suits a subject like this, made for players who know how long practice takes. Give it to a violinist after a recital, a string teacher at the end of the season, or a friend who never leaves home without the right hat.