A fabulous rare desktop object, I've had this one for decades. It's a Napoleon III era (c.1850-70) French crafted paper knife or as some would think of it, a letter opener. The blade is carved ivory, the edges sharpened to cut through the old books, which were printed with folds and therefore needed to have the folds cut. It's a tool people don't typically understand in modern times when book pages are sharply cut. Two lost arts, really. Parting with my own collections, this being one. Measurements are noted on the photos.
Very good condition for age and type, the kiln-fired enamel is worked in Champleve manner, and is in excellent condition. The ivory blade is excellent but for one very tiny nip on edge near the handle, and then a little surface abrasion here or there, signs of age and use.
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.
