Green Toy Chest Shaped Limoges Box

Painted a cheerful green, this toy chest recalls the trunk at the foot of the bed where favorite playthings waited for morning. Porcelain painters in Limoges, France, decorated this Limoges box by hand.

Treasures in the Toy Chest

Toy chests hold more than toys; they hold memories of birthdays, rainy afternoons and bedtime stories. This green version captures that feeling in miniature, with the chest form shaped in porcelain and painted by hand. It is a decorative keepsake rather than a real toy box.

Nursery Shelf Notes

• Hand-painted porcelain from Limoges, France
• Fits a toy, nursery or keepsake collection
• Pairs with teddy bear, rocking horse and alphabet block pieces

First Milestones

Families often choose a piece like this for a christening, a baby shower or a first birthday, then keep it on a high nursery shelf. A first tooth or a lock of hair from that first haircut fits inside as a lasting memento. Green also works well for a nursery when the baby's arrival is still a surprise.

Made for Small Treasures

Small porcelain boxes were the fashion in 18th-century France, when they held snuff, pills and beauty patches, and they still hold tiny treasures today.