A beautifully preserved late 18th century French writing set, complete and housed in its original fitted case bearing the purveyor’s label:
“Cochin, Md Papetier, Rue St Honoré 372.”
A luxury ensemble from one of Paris’ finest districts, this elegant nécessaire includes:
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Lather-turned ivory dip pen (metal collar, nib absent but easily replaced)
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Carved ivory seal (sceau/cachet) with silver mount
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Finely shaped ivory paper knife / letter opener
The workmanship is unmistakably 18th century — hand-turned spiral pen shaft, delicately carved and fluted handles, and the softly glowing patina only centuries can produce. The paper knife features a classical fluted grip terminating in a shell motif — refined, restrained, and beautifully balanced in hand. The seal retains its silver mount (unengraved matrix), ready for a new monogram or left as found. The dip pen requires only a simple nib, readily available at art supply shops. The original red leather-covered case with gilt line tooling opens to a rich plum velvet interior. The base retains its original teal paper lining and the Cochin label, placing it firmly in the luxury trade of late 18th century Paris stationers and papetiers.
Measurements:
Box: 6 5/8" long, 2 1/8" wide, 5/8" deep
Condition:
Remarkably well preserved. Ivory remains smooth and beautifully patinated without damage. Minor expected age wear to the case exterior and interior silk lid lining. Hinges and clasps intact. A superb survival in original fitted box.
An elegant and intimate object — the sort of refined personal luxury one associates with correspondence written by candlelight in the final decades of the ancien régime.
Museum worthy in its completeness and presentation.
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.
