Joan Evans, A History of Jewellery 1100-1870 (1953) p.166 states that 'floral and foliate designs, sometimes accompanied by ribbon bows, are the basis of most gemset jewels from the seventy years between 1710 and 1780'. She goes on to stress the lightness of such jewels, which were designed to add sparkle to delicate 18th Century lace in contrast to earlier jewels which had enhanced the heavier 17th Century velvets and brocades. The flower and festive ribbon theme running through this parure is reminiscent of the designs of Pouget, whose best known publications 'Traité des pierres précieuses et de la manière de les employer en parure' and 'Nouveau recueil de parures de joyaillerie' (sic) appeared in 1762 and 1767. The fitted case tooled with scattered flowers and a central vase has patterned silk inside the lid bordered by gold lace which echoes the lacy gold settings of the parure