Stunning fine tiny painting, her face is just 3/8" from chin to hairline. She's perfectly preserved on a small box which I would say is a patch box, but could be a smaller snuff box. The snuffs from mid-1700s are also smaller than those a bit later. This one is in finest tortoise shell and is banded with rings of 18k gold as well as a matching worked 18k gold mat to frame her into the lid. I have not removed her from the mount, able to acid test the center rings, plus there's just no dirt inside - I'll bet, if opened, she is still sealed to the glass. The box is just gorgeous, start to finish. Exceptionally fine. I'd say c.1750-70s, the high hair and style of fashion. There is no artist signature visible.
Very good to excellent condition throughout, you know we have collected the very finest through these decades, and my collections are being 'downsized' at this point. This is one of my finest, I think. Look closely at the enlarged painting, which is also taken through the convex cover glass. That face is 3/8" from chin to hairline - look at what this artist captured in such a tiny space. I can't see a flaw to note. It's a little tight to open, but there's no warp, not a bug bite anywhere - no chips and no hairlines or cracks. Just superb! I do not know who she is.
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.
