Elegant old panels of ivory inlaid with worked framework and cartouche of finest French sterling silver, and lined with elegant royal blue moire silk, this aide d'memoire would have held calling cards, a little note pad and calendar, and would have kept the schedule of its owner in order. These were often part of a boxed set, though often don't remain in complete original cases with other matching pieces. This one was very fine quality, and has a curved ivory spine. They were a traditional gift, usually with a small coin purse, on the event of a child's communion. This one comes alone, as shown. Measurements are noted on the photos.
Very good condition for age and type. The old ivory panels and spine remain flat and without warp, but natural materials usually shrink with great age, and this one is over 170 or so years old, the shrinkage process has not caused any cracks, but it has slightly buckled the inlaid silver - do you see it? Still, a very lovely old case. The moire silk inside is in a baffle or accordion pleat fashion not usually seen in this type cover, and there is a split or two, but still very pretty. A stylus or thin pencil would have operated as clasp, and can be added, but at listing time we do not have one for this piece.
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.
