An exquisite little treasure, mid-1800s pocket watch or small jewelry box or case, etui, with a finished rosewood interior and marquetry veneer of ivory and dyed mother of pearl in a floral motif. Elegantly finished with a brass pencil edge in heavy brass, and a push-button opener that engages 2 pins. Definitely a one of a kind bespoke box, I've never seen another worked quite like this, in all my many decades of buying and museum wandering - similar, perhaps, but not with the dyed mother of pearl marquetry. Full measurements noted on the photos.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type, materials. The 5 veneered sides are all smooth to the finger rubbed across, fine hairlines of age shrinkage which is typical for the material and thin slices comprising the veneer. To me, an enhancement of age. Interior is superb, fine quality rosewood, and heavy brass mount and pencil-edging trim that continues the very finished opulence. Closes well, opens well and no warp or space along the meeting of top and bottom. Just awaits your favorite gems or perhaps watch. The silk embroidery panels are only our backdrop for photos - aids in capturing color and detail, and they are not included with the box. Found in France.
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.
