Exquisite artistry in this elaborately inlaid and pique-worked tortoise shell patch box, boite a mouche, or small snuff or rosary box, etui - difficult to test, a tiny bit missing, it is 18k gold and thin stringing pattern centered by tiny crosses. Both top and bottom of box are thus worked, an incredible artistry. The portrait miniature (of sorts) mounted on the lid is a deep convex kiln-fired enamel plaque working in a passionate monochromatic, and depicting Jesus with his tormentors, beating him as he sits with crown of thorns still on his head but a quite casual comfort to his face - as if he is beyond the pain. perhaps it represents the risen Christ. The box is small, typical size of snuffs more to mid-1700s. Full measurements noted on the photos.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type, truly a work of art. I can't imagine achieving the tiny cross within quatrefoil of thinnest gold stringing, not the swell of musculature on the tiny figures on the kiln-fired enamel plaque. For its age, a few bits of the pique work have lifted and been lost from the design, notably flowers in one spot, a border rocaille, though a couple seem dark and just need me to polish with a q-tip. Yes, I do that on occasion. I didn't with this one, fearing I'd catch and lift the impossibly thin quatrefoil inlays. The old tortoise shell box is pristine, really - not even a bug bite to diminish its beauty. A beveled rim both top and bottom. Incredibly worked and the tiniest pique pins seem all to be in place - running fingers over them, not a single one is raised.
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.
