An 18th century to very earliest 1800s Palais Royal needle case which is decorated in mother of pearl and also silver foil set into incised holes for a unique patterning. The body of the case is well over 200 year old ivory, as you know, so restrictions apply. This single sewing item would have once been fitted among many elegant sewing and vanity tools in a 'necessaire', a box or trunk of essential 'necessities' for the nobility, and quite likely they purchased it via the boutiques of the old Palais Royal, Paris - a center of opulent enterprise, boutiques offering the best the world had to offer then, to Royals and nobles and their wives and mistresses. The palace that was one home to Cardinale Richelieu, its history is a fascinating study. Full measurements noted on photos. ONLY THE IVORY NEEDLE CASE offered for sale in this listing.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type. Not perfect, however. I can point out that the actual needle case is compete and without chip or crack or break. Some of the incised dots are missing their price foil, which looks to have been gold and silver, typical of the late 1700s wares. I believe that the large round of mother of pearl on the top of the scabbard shaped needle case is original to it, and that the elongated one on bottom half is not. My sense is that someone has replaced what was likely a back-painted glass (eglomise) inset or perhaps beveled mercury mirror, with a cut down 19th century gambling chip. For sale as you see it, came to me with a grouping of loose sewing tools long ago. I am unable to open it. It seems stuck, and I'm not going to exert lots of pressure just to see what's inside. It is as it is.
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.
