RARE Antique French c.1700s Georgian Era Sardonyx Agate Stone Necessaire, Etui
RARE Antique French c.1700s Georgian Era Sardonyx Agate Stone Necessaire, Etui
RARE Antique French c.1700s Georgian Era Sardonyx Agate Stone Necessaire, Etui
RARE Antique French c.1700s Georgian Era Sardonyx Agate Stone Necessaire, Etui
RARE Antique French c.1700s Georgian Era Sardonyx Agate Stone Necessaire, Etui
RARE Antique French c.1700s Georgian Era Sardonyx Agate Stone Necessaire, Etui
RARE Antique French c.1700s Georgian Era Sardonyx Agate Stone Necessaire, Etui
RARE Antique French c.1700s Georgian Era Sardonyx Agate Stone Necessaire, Etui
RARE Antique French c.1700s Georgian Era Sardonyx Agate Stone Necessaire, Etui
RARE Antique French c.1700s Georgian Era Sardonyx Agate Stone Necessaire, Etui
RARE Antique French c.1700s Georgian Era Sardonyx Agate Stone Necessaire, Etui
RARE Antique French c.1700s Georgian Era Sardonyx Agate Stone Necessaire, Etui

RARE Antique French c.1700s Georgian Era Sardonyx Agate Stone Necessaire, Etui

通常価格 $1,195.00
単価  あたり 
配送料は購入手続き時に計算されます。

From my own collection of these c.1750-80s 'necessaire', it's the only one I've had in this rare and stunningly beautiful carved agate or stone. Sardonyx is a particularly rare form of mined agate, and this one is richly mottled and brilliantly colored. Typically, one might expect to open the silver mount and find a set of grooming tools within, the 'necessities' a gentleman might require in travel, tucked neatly into a small vest pocket sized case. Elevated to things of great beauty, as with this one, a gentleman might well own a variety of them, as with precious snuff boxes. This one is not fitted with the typical implement rack, and remains open. Some were fitted with a scent or 'salts' bottle. Perhaps this was one, though no flask was with it when I purchased it in France ages ago.  One of my favorites, it is just under 4" long. 

Very good to excellent condition for age and type. Not a single flaw in the hand-carved slabs of sardonyx agate which comprise the  body and cap. Not even a tiny chip. Very rare fine condition. The hinged silver mount and trim around the slightly widening lid, the trim and clasp - all excellent as well. These semi-precious stone ones of specimen stone are a bit fragile and not many survive. Most are in museum collections and the few that do come to market don't last long. I suspect this one will be the same. Isn't it a gem!