Mid-1800s, made for the small cheroot (little cigar) people smoked, this case is just pristine for age and materials. Somewhere in size between a match vesta and a later cigarette case. The portrait is after the styles of the French Empire, probably done as a Grand Tour souvenir. Silver mounts, and hinge, clasp. The case has a push-button opener and it's working just fine.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type. No bug bites on the old tortoise shell case, no breaks or cracks. Likewise, the convex plaque kiln-fired enamel portrait is without damage. It's been in my collections for 2 decades and was purchased ages ago in France. Measurements noted on photos.
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.
