RARE 1770s French Snuff or Patch Box, Portrait Miniature of a Lady in 18k Gold Frame on Ivory

Such a stunning old thing, when she posed in her powdered hair and her sweeping low bodice lacey gown, Marie-Antoinette was still Queen, and the French Revolution was a distant dream of the commoners. This little patch or small snuff box is 250+ years old. A young society beauty, unidentified and unsigned, is beautifully kept in her 18k gold oval frame, still under the original slightly convex cover glass. Her face is only 5/8" from chin to forehead, and yet look at the incredible detail this artist has captured for all time. The portrait is a work of art and history, and still firmly mounted upon the fine hand-crafted ivory box.

Excellent condition throughout. No flaws to note other than very very slight pushes to the 18k gold oval mat (see images), which still is so beautiful and complete. The hand carved and crafted ivory box is pristine. Fits smoothly, no warp, no cracks, no nips, not even a tiny nip on the tortoise shell lined interior.  An exceptional museum quality piece, this.  If only we knew her story.  

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.