Bidspirit auction | A Victorian Metal Fly

A Victorian Metal Fly - A Victorian metal fly presented within a vintage French pastille tin. The miniature insect sculpture is a piece of folk art constructed from iron or steel. It features thin wire legs and shaped metal sheets forming the body and wings, which are joined by solder or welding and rest on a pad of white cotton wool inside the container. The green lithographed tin lid features a central black banner containing the brand name MENTAL in stylized white serif lettering. The lid also bears the French phrases PARFUME L’HALEINE, RAFRAICHIT LA BOUCHE, and EXTRA FORT, along with a mint plant logo and the opening instruction APPUYER ICI. No maker marks or signatures are visible on the metal fly. Tin Width: Approximately 1.75 inches Sculpture Length: Approximately 0.5 inches.