Nice-sized, these domed top and serpentine fronted boxes have always caught my eye. I've mostly found them in France, decades ago, and used to believe that they were French, but I think they are Dutch made, instead. Perhaps both made similar ones. The steam-shaped tortoise shell lid is unlined and so when open, you see the opulent shell coloration showing through, which makes them perfect as display boxes for your small collections. Micro mosaics have been displayed in this one, as have thrilling Georgian to Victorian jewelry pieces. I've long collected portrait miniatures and these boxes hold a cluster of those so beautifully, keeping them off the walls but all in view. We have found these fitted out for antique sets of spoons, and in fact have a larger one right now with a Dutch sterling silver vermeil tea service still in it, but it's missing the fragile top or lid. I digress. This one is not perfect, but it is beautiful in display. Full measurements noted on photos.
Very good condition for age and type. The old tortoise shell top is without cracks or damage, which is rather rare in this type. There are, however, a few spots where it is flawed. At one corner, it has some tortoise shell missing (see photos), and near a foot there is a bug-bite or chip. The hinge and clasp are fine and the inner ivory lip is intact (I did try to clean it and find it might have a little stain here or there). Always raised on little ivory feet, I think this box had antique ivory beads substituted somewhere along the way. I've had it for decades and it came to me this way, but more typically the feet on these will be lathe-turned or a flatter bun foot. Just a mention. The interior lining is the old original and is nice - a silk nap velvet, shows some age but is holding up. Not perfect, and priced accordingly.
IMPORTANT NOTE regarding antique tortoise shell or ivory: We are great supporters of protection for endangered species in our modern world. We never buy or sell anything 100 years or newer; we donate to anti-poaching organizations; we don't hunt; we conserve in ways that impact global warming (we're totally solar at home), knowing those measures also protect the animals in the wild today. We also recognize the vast cultural history we preserve with our care and reverence for these antique objects, and agree with CITES that objects over 100 years of age have nothing whatsoever to do with species depletion in our current world.
Our offering exceeds the age limitation of "more than 100 years of age", and is well within the exemption for CITES regulation. If imported, met the CITES regulation. This item will be handled and shipped from our Utah business, and is not available for shipment internationally, nor within the USA to California, NY, Nevada, Hawaii, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington if it contains ivory, sorry. Please see our small print for more details.
