What a fabulous find this one is! Perfectly sized for travel if you're inclined. It's a scaled down version of the old Victorian era tea caddies, but upon opening, you realize it is a jewellery box with lovely red lining and a lift- out tray. I am always so tempted to use these when I travel - you know, the whole 'Grand Tour' kind of thing; a carry-on necessaries with all the bottles, jars, and brushes, mirror and etc., and then my jewellery alongside in something fabulous like this. But it's even more perfect on a tabletop in your display (or mine) of various shell boxes. The size of this one is so unusual, sets up visual interest and everyone will want to open it just to see how one this size would be fitted out. Beautiful!
Very good to excellent condition for age and type. Victorian, c. 1840-70, it has wonderfully mottled chocolate and cognac coloration, the best mix possible in the old tortoiseshell, and all of the veneer is in place. A silver metal cartouche which has not been monogrammed, and silver stringing lend added accent to the box. Smoothly fitted, and no warping, the box closes nicely. Interior is also in fine condition for age. No door, ready to use or display.
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. We do hold a valid USFWS license, as well, for import/export, but additional time is required for export, and we are not exporting at this time.
