Large and elegantly crafted early to mid-1800 mantilla or tiara ornamental comb in exquisite tortoise shell, a hand carved lava cameo mounted in 14k gold at center. From my own collections of decades, being disbursed now. Beautiful coloration to the natural shell and really quite pristine in condition - someone's Grand Tour souvenir of either Italy (Naples area) or of France. Full measurements noted on the photos.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type, over 170 years of age, and I don't see a single flaw to note. Even the face on the cameo is perfect. We've had it stored for decades in an archival pouch. The tortoise shell is lustrous and just stunning on this one.
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.
