Dating latest 1700s, this magnificent little snuff box survives without a bit of damage, no chips, cracks or losses, and the miniature painting mounted atop it is one of my all-time favorites, just 1 1/2" in diameter, that painting shows a mother helping a child look into a window. An old stone home or perhaps barn, the little landscape with figures is precise and amazing - their faces are 1mm! A polished convex cover glass has protected this tiny work of art for centuries, in the silver mount. Must have been so precious to some family as an heirloom, it hasn't any damage to the fine tortoise shell interior lining, trim, nor to the ivory outer box. Full measurements noted on photos, but the painting is just 1 1/2" in diameter - tiny, and the box is 2 7/8" in diameter and 1" tall, closed.
Very good to excellent condition throughout, I really see nothing at all to report by way of a flaw. Slight darkening to the ivory bottom, which is a natural aspect of the material.
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.
