The large box is entirely of ivory*, set with a beautiful portrait miniature of an 18th century woman, Louis XV to XVI period, mid-1700s. I think the box would date nearly a century later, however, and would have been created to satisfy the Grand Tour traveler's desire for objects, souvenirs of their visit to Paris, or to Versailles. Still over 150 years in age, it is a charming large table snuff or trinket box, possibly was a powder box as it was initially marketed, with a likely ostrich powder puff with carved ivory handle. No evidence it has been used for either, and is clean inside, no stains. Beautiful painting, reminiscent of portraits by Vigee LeBrun, and might well be after (aprés) one of her paintings. I apologize that there is some dirt showing on these photos, particularly around the gadrooned boded of the lid. Sometimes what doesn't show in the hand shows up double on greatly enlarged photos. It has been thoroughly cleaned since.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type, dating at least 150 or more years, early Victorian or Napoleon III era, Grand Tour souvenir box. The painting is beautifully done, I do not see a signature one could make out. No evidence of flaw to the painting, which I did not remove from the box so you see some glare here or there from the convex cover glass being in place. Nicer in person. I see one age/drying or shrinkage hairline, there at about 5 o'clock position on top of lid. Quite typical of the old ivory, it is the only one. Inner slender lip is also fine, undamaged, and the box is not warped, fits smoothly and tightly when closed.
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.
