Antique French Napoleon III (c.1850-70) or earlier tortoise shell scent caddy with both of the original small perfume flasks (flacon) still inside. This type of casket usually has cracks, hairlines, breaks but this one is absolutely without any damage - rare to find in this condition. One stopper missing. I really don't think the stopper with it is original - it's quite loose. Caps have French boar's head punch mark, .800/1000 pure silver, and vermeil (18k gold layer on the silver).
Very good to excellent condition for age and type. As noted, no damage at all to that steam-formed natural tortoise shell. The French method of setting panels of shell into ormolu framework is unique to this period, and is a very fragile way to work shell. Most used it as veneer over wood, giving it more strength against shrinkage damage or handling damage. The coloration is superb - mottled chocolate to cognac. I note that in some photos the lid looks slightly askance, so I've just adjusted it lightly and it's fitting perfectly aligned now. Sorry - I did polish the shell and neglected to notice the very slight off-set. The perfume flasks are original, fit perfectly. Normally when we find these, one or both scent bottles are missing or damaged. No damage in slender necks, no chips. There is 1 stopper with the small bottles, but I think it is not original because it fits loosely. Still, it will be included as it came with the set. Measurements noted on photos. A superb piece, 150-180 years old.
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.
