Another one from my own long life collections. Necessaire! A tiny piece from some grand Palais Royal trousse de voyage, no doubt, this little instrument is a folding toothpick (one in ivory and one in tortoise shell) and on the other end is an ear wax spoon. Folds up like a little pocket knife and is just 2 3/8" long when closed. Beautiful little treasure, some 220 or more years old now. c.1770-1800, latest. Sometimes found in sewing boxes, perfect to tuck into a purse or vest pocket.
Very good to excellent condition throughout for age and type. RARE to find these still intact, particularly if they're not still inside a fitted case or large travel box. The cartouche is sterling silver, and is on one side only.
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.
