Pique work is beautiful and is in gold and silver against rich chocolate to cognac carved and polished tortoise shell, making this elegant little coin purse more like a piece of fine jewelry, really. Quite unique, the inclusion of a watch or small clock, and inside the purse, tucked into the silk lining, is a watch key to fit it. As you see, under the flap with gold embossed maker name, you find both a winding pin and a setting pin. I bought this ages ago, and the watch key with it was not the right size so I couldn't wind or check the clock. I was told it worked, but now that I've matched a watch key that actually does fit it, I can tell you that it is too tightly wound and will need a watchmaker to do a little to it if you wish to have it keep time. Normally that is a small and simple repair, but at this time we're not venturing out to find which watchmaker can do it for us. Should be quite simple. Measurements noted on the photos.
Very good to excellent for age or type. As noted above, the clock has been overwound. Do not try to wind it further or you might break the mainspring, which is a bigger deal. Otherwise, complete, and so very pretty. I'm looking very closely at it and it seems to me there has been a very well-accomplished restoration to tortoise shell on the back side, hinge side. Still, so pretty and nothing you'd notice in use, just under exceptionally close inspection. If it is a restoration, it's incredibly well done. Unique little treasure for any purse collector!
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.
