Early, not quite perfect, perfectly fabulous! Those thick broad bold bands have early French 18k gold marks, and also later eagle's head profile meaning they've gone through an auction house sometime since 1838, and had to be assayed again. So much 18k gold on this one, and evidence that it once had yet another band of it around the very base (see slight indentation on our greatly enlarged images). And that's just icing on the cake, frankly, on this splendid miniature painting of Psyche and Cupid, making offerings at the alter of love, a pair of doves (love birds) at base of the monument. Theme and execution are superb, and the very early worked blond tortoise shell is still remarkably fine for age, too. Displays beautifully. Measurements noted on photos.
Very good to excellent for age and type, with a few flaws to note. As mentioned above, there seems to have once been one more edging of gold there on base of the bottom half of the snuff box or patch box. A slight indentation on the old tortoise shell can be seen. The top half of the box is superb, and together, the entire snuff is opulent, elegant. When you open the 2 halves, there is something I can't quite explain on the inner lip of the bottom half of the box. It seems like residue of tape, perhaps? Though that makes no sense since the top fits the bottom very smoothly and is not too large, which might beg someone to wrap tape along that inner lip. I never did try to remove it. I just put the lid on and enjoyed it. That lip does not show in display at all. Photographed from all views, it shows some age to the old shell on bottom, but is remarkably complete for c.1700s work.
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.
