Large and supple-formed hand carved Dieppe, France ivory sceau, or wax seal. French, and c. 1840-70. The collar is finely worked French Sterling silver, with a white metal or steel matrix engraved in a script overlay of M and T or P. I've shown the matrix both as it looks, and flipped so you can see how it will look when impressed in your red sealing wax. The handle is large at nearly 4" long, and is heavy as only solid old ivory is in the hand. Full measurements noted on the photos.
Very good to excellent condition, no chips or breaks. Our very enlarged images reveal a few minuscule hairlines, natural to the material as it ages, and not visible in actual size. As close to flawless as any we've had. The silver is not dented and is beautifully worked, cast.
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.
