I found this decades ago in a little market in Paris, have had it ever since. Time to disburse my collections and 'stashes'. I always thought it would made a wonderful handle for a wax seal, and still that seems like a fun option. But he remains unmounted, just as I found him 30 or so years ago. I love the carving! The measurements are noted on the photos - it's not large. A walking stick or a parasol handle, one, not a full large cane, I think. I picture some elegant gentleman in silk tuxedo, an ebony walking stick with this handle upon it, lightly in his hand as he strolls the garden promenade of the old Palais Royal. More for show than use. Isn't it just fabulous!
Very good for age and type, a carved handle removed from its one-time use as a parasol or walking stick handle. One could certain re-mount it. As you can see, a couple of imperfections: a shrinkage hairline along the mounting neck, and also, not to the eye, but in our greatly enlarged photos, I can see that there is, perhaps, a very old crack across 2 ankles and tail. It seems not to have been broken free at all, as the others are solid. It might also be a shrinkage hairline. Sturdy, but bears mention. The carving is more delicate than greatly enlarged photos make it out to be. I'm unsure if this would have been a Dieppe carving, but likely.
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.
