A typical c.1840-60s calling card case, 4" x 3" so it will even fit today's business cards. A splendid veneer marquetry combining fine tortoise shell, mother of pearl and abalone shell. This one will draw every eye! And not the least because it has that mother of pearl skull on one side. Do you think it was a member of a secret club whose sign was a skull, or would that be too conspiracy-theory-ish? What we know for certain is that, among these types of Victorian era cases, this one stands out as the most ornate and finely crafted, as well as well kept. Not a bit of loss to the shell veneers. The marquetry is complicated, thrilling. One side, the more benign, has a done perched on a stylized urn of sorts. Full measurements are on the photos.
Very good to excellent condition throughout. Not a single panel of carved/cut shell missing on this one, and the coloration is truly stunning. It's a flash of brilliant colors, including that chocolate to cognac coloration of the old tortoise shell used. The case dates c.1840-60, give or take 10 years. Must have been very special to someone and feels museum bound to me. You?
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.
