Exquisite pique work, inlays into a carved tortoise shell rounded rectangular plaque, fitted at back with a pin back as a brooch. The Georgian era (c.1700s) work you see is still entirely in place, so delicate. Tested that border and the gold inlays are 18k gold. Some silver also, for contrasts. Deep and rounded, it has stood the test of time and presents 250 years later with just a single bug bite on the reverse side. No flaw shows at all in display or in wear. You will remember having seen this type of work in various museum collections, including a vast display in the British Museum, London, and several in the V&A.
Very good to excellent condition, just a single bug bite on the backside, not visible in display nor in wearing it. No lifts nor losses to the 18k gold and silver pique inlays, which are exceptional in this one. From my own collections, this.
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.
