Yes, I've been a lifelong collector of boxes, all sizes, the older the better. This is a favorite, c.1700s semitransparent blond tortoise shell with fabulous gold and pink 18k inlays, pique, border. I've added a clicked image of the collection at the British Museum, London, which helps support the early date for these. Is it a snuff or a patch box? One can argue either way. It is a French art of 250 or more years ago, and they become more and more difficult to find. Measurements are noted on photos, but it is 2 1/4" in diameter.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type. The lathe-turned tortoise shell is very thin, and is rare - selected for the transparency and the amber or honey color. You can see each bit of inlaid worked 18k gold, and the play of yellow and pink gold in the design. Very slight disruption, visible for your inspection. It's a lot of gold for one of these. As you can see, the delicate rim misses a section, too. Photos show all, greatly enlarged. A small gem of a box. One wonders at its history!
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.
