{"product_id":"exceptional-louis-xvi-blond-tortoiseshell-18k-gold-pique-sentimental-hairwork-snuff-box-inscribed-a-camilie-france-c-1785-1800","title":"Exceptional Louis XVI Blond Tortoiseshell, 18K Gold Piqué \u0026 Sentimental Hairwork Snuff Box, Inscribed \"À Camilie,\" France, c. 1785–1800","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"145\" data-end=\"1269\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eFew objects capture the romance and refined artistry of the late eighteenth century as beautifully as this extraordinary French Louis XVI snuff box, exquisitely fashioned of luminous blond tortoiseshell and lavishly ornamented throughout with intricate tri-color 18-karat gold piqué work. Measuring a generous 3 inches in diameter, the box is centered by an exceptional sentimental hairwork tableau beneath its original convex glass crystal. Created entirely from meticulously arranged strands of human hair in varying natural shades, the miniature depicts a smoking altar before an ivy-entwined classical column beneath graceful evergreen trees, all symbols of enduring love and fidelity. A delicate ivory shield bears the heartfelt inscription \u003cstrong data-start=\"891\" data-end=\"907\"\u003e\"À Camilie,\"\u003c\/strong\u003e transforming the composition from a decorative scene into an intensely personal token of affection. Surrounding the memorial is a broad polished 18-karat gold bezel, while continuous garlands of finely executed gold piqué decorate both the lid and body, showcasing the extraordinary craftsmanship for which French luxury workshops of the period were celebrated.\u003cspan aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1271\" data-end=\"2162\"\u003eCreated during the final years of the Ancien Régime, this remarkable box embodies the sentimental ideals that flourished in France during the reign of Louis XVI, when hairwork became one of the most intimate and treasured expressions of love and remembrance. The artistry displayed here is exceptional, from the delicate construction of the windswept trees to the softly shimmering smoke rising from the altar, all achieved without paint, using only carefully arranged human hair. Such boxes were costly commissions intended for the highest levels of society, combining the finest materials with deeply personal symbolism. Examples that unite blond tortoiseshell, extensive 18-karat gold piqué decoration, and an original personalized hairwork composition of this quality are genuinely rare, making this an outstanding addition to the finest collection of eighteenth-century objets de vertu.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2164\" data-end=\"2935\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2164\" data-end=\"2178\"\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Beautifully preserved for well over two centuries. The hairwork tableau remains remarkably complete beneath its original convex crystal, and the extensive 18-karat gold piqué decoration is substantially intact throughout. The tortoiseshell retains its rich honey coloration and translucence, with age-related surface scratches, several old stabilized cracks, including one more noticeable repair to the side of the body, all consistent with careful preservation of an object intended for daily use. The interior remains attractively finished with its original gold piqué border, while remnants of the original paper backing beneath the lid survive. Overall, a remarkably well-preserved and highly desirable example of French Louis XVI luxury craftsmanship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIMPORTANT NOTE regarding antique tortoise shell or ivory\u003c\/strong\u003e: 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.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur 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.\u003cstrong\u003e 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.\u003c\/strong\u003e Please see our small print for more details.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antiques \u0026 Uncommon Treasure","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48512178454782,"sku":"726snuff1","price":3495.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0298\/3392\/0556\/files\/726snuff1_7deb62c0-1d0f-4fa1-a348-cdb6d8d76a18.jpg?v=1783031871","url":"https:\/\/antiques-uncommon-treasure.com\/ja\/products\/exceptional-louis-xvi-blond-tortoiseshell-18k-gold-pique-sentimental-hairwork-snuff-box-inscribed-a-camilie-france-c-1785-1800","provider":"Antiques \u0026 Uncommon Treasure","version":"1.0","type":"link"}