A stunningly fine little treasure, this c.1750s snuff or patch box (2.5" diameter) survives nearly unscathed by time. The 18k gold oval mount positioned as cartouche on the round box holds a magnificently crafted kiln-fired enamel worked on the typical convex copper plaque. Certainly of some private meaning to its first owner, the child seems to be carrying a red and gold cape or garment of some sort. Looking at it in person, at 2.5" in diameter, I did not notice the little bit of dust of ages packed around the gold. I'll be cleaning it with a q-tip before it goes out to its next owner (sorry!). This is one of my favorites from my own collection.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type, (finer cleaning coming up), it has an age separation on the side panel of the lid, shown in our photos. As this fine old material ages, it is common for shrinkage to occur and so in fact, this is very little for a box nearing 300 years of age. A collection show-stopper. . . but I think that about a whole lot of my collection pieces. Time to let them go. The box is 2 1/2" in diameter, and 3/4" tall, closed. Lined, as was typical, with tortoise shell.
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.
