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19th Century Tortoise Shell Etui, a Purse, Superb Interior and Pique with Crown Cartouche
19th Century Tortoise Shell Etui, a Purse, Superb Interior and Pique with Crown Cartouche
19th Century Tortoise Shell Etui, a Purse, Superb Interior and Pique with Crown Cartouche
19th Century Tortoise Shell Etui, a Purse, Superb Interior and Pique with Crown Cartouche
19th Century Tortoise Shell Etui, a Purse, Superb Interior and Pique with Crown Cartouche
19th Century Tortoise Shell Etui, a Purse, Superb Interior and Pique with Crown Cartouche
19th Century Tortoise Shell Etui, a Purse, Superb Interior and Pique with Crown Cartouche
19th Century Tortoise Shell Etui, a Purse, Superb Interior and Pique with Crown Cartouche

19th Century Tortoise Shell Etui, a Purse, Superb Interior and Pique with Crown Cartouche

Regular price $995.00 Sale price $696.50
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From the outside one might expect this one to open and reveal itself to be a carnet du bal, or maybe a calling card case with a ivory sleeve for taking notes - a necessaire of sorts, but this one has a surprise! The slightly oversized case is actually a purse or vanity 'bag', fitted out inside with pocketed moire silk liner panels on each side, some leather- lined. There's even a little vanity mirror, the old original of course, and a surprising arrangement of pouches, pleated folders/spaces for calling cards or whatever. There's a gathered holder for a lipstick, too, albeit a tiny one. Great isn't it! The exterior is beautiful high chocolate color shell, of course, exquisitely inlaid with a cartouche of pique flowers in several colors of metal (sterling, gilted or gold rolled - likely karat gold but not tested) and on the other side is a raised silver crest of sorts with a crown top and wings. We don't know whose crest this is, or what it signifies, but it is really spectacular. Banded with gold that certainly looks to be karat gold, though we haven't tested it, the overall appeal is remarkable.

Very good condition, with only the tiniest insignificant nip or two on the old shell, and some wear to the old lining as you can see, and the most frustrating loss is the latch-straps that would have hinged over the closure and fitted themselves onto the little gold pin tops you see on one side. But were it not for those pins, you'd swear this one is complete as it stands. Leather interior shows some age, of course. Very fine, unique, and highly appealing.

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.