Alas, all of the old original implements that would have filled this little vest pocket necessaire or etui have gone missing apart from the 2 bladed fruit and meat knife. It's the original for this etui, perfect fitted and dated. I suspect one of the tools missing is the tines and handle for a fork, which would have fit into that larger hole and the rectangular one next to it. Also we'd expect a combination tweezer and ear wax spoon, a 3-4 leaf riveted notepad, and possibly scissors in that longest opening. The handle for the knife is clad in 200+ year old tortoise shell, still just beautiful. Full measurements noted on our photos.
Very good as it is, some tools missing but the etui is without damage. It is, as noted, silver plated, you can see other metal visible through the bottom, but the body and lid remain very silver-clad and fine without rubs through. No bends, and only the loss of majority of the old implements/tools that would have completed it. Rare to find this type of eating knife still within, which is quite valuable on its own, the more so in original necessaire. Very slight imperfections to it, commensurate with age, like the hairline across the tortoise shell at the one pin.
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.
