Exceptionally fine condition, this one is from my personal collection. At widest, it is 4" and is 2.75" front to back, 2.25" tall plus the ring handle up top. The remarkable thing about this early 1800s French box is that it hasn't any loss to any of the steam-formed curved panels which make up the body, nor any to the serpentine-formed lid. This type of box is unique to a period, and to France. No veneer, no backing, the shell is simply formed and the set into a framework of bright ormolu. Fragile, most don't survive at all, so they're rare. And even more rare to find one without hairline cracks, or a little missing shell, such is the nature of the box. It would have come from the boutiques of the famed Palais Royal, Paris, and perhaps was filled initially with confections. Some were filled with small scent flacons, and others would be fitted out with a sewing tool set. Trinket for the Grand Tour travelers of early 1800s, and for society's elite who made up the visitors then to the Palais Royal. A fabulous history!
Very good to excellent condition, for age and type - usually these have cracks, flaws, missing something. This one is superb inside and out. The hinged clasp holds tightly closed and opens easily. Eight steam-rounded panels, alternating tortoise shell and mother of pearl, make up the body and none are missing nor damaged. Same for the tortoise shell top. Interior is equally fine, still with the paper bottom and silk piping all in place. Exceptional!
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.
