Petit treasure, this hand decorated ivoryetui with its glass vial still inside, a vinaigrette of sorts, but in the French decorative style known as Vernis Martin. It is painted in layers of oil paint and varnish, creating a depth in the decoration. This dates to the time of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, and would have been the little pocket etui into which perfumed salts would have been placed to open and use to scent the air while out in public. Hygiene being what it was (or was not) in 1700s France, these little salts flacon were a must. Measurements noted on photos, just a little piece, only 2" in length and 3/4" in diameter (etui).
Very good condition for age and type, you can see that it has survived 250 or more years, which is quite something. A long glass dauber attached to the stopper has broken off inside the vial, and the stopper is still stuck with the residue of some long long ago fragrance. I didn't want to oil-soak it to remove the stopper. The old scent within would have to be washed away, and it's an interesting promise of this one. Sweet little swags, forest scent and garlands of olive leaves hand painted, yellowed some with time as is the typical case with Vernis Martin. The case is ivory. Entirely hand crafted, and 250+ 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.
