Dating c. 1805-1814, this pretty young woman posed for her portrait at the height of the Napoleonic Era French Empire. Young, she might be in her first formal portrait here, or possibly it is a gift to her young husband, or for parents as she leaves to begin her life as a young bride. She wears a modest lace bodice piece and also a red coral necklace, each evidence of her age and virtue. Red coral was a gift often given to young girls or young women, and was thought to be a protector of her virtue. An interesting talisman relating to the blood of Medusa, if you're not familiar. Her pretty face is framed in brunette curls and she's wearing one of the prettiest Empire tiaras - one set with large garnet beads from the look of it. Quite unique, as usually one sees either seed pearls or red coral on those. A very nice tortoise shell snuff box, with a center mount in silver which has a hint of the 18k gold layer (vermeil). Box and painting are in very nice condition.
Very good to excellent for age and type, the old box is entirely made of tortoise shell, mottled cognac to chocolate coloration, against which the silver vermeil and her brass frame make a fitting frame to the excellent painting. No chips, no cracks, even the slender inner rim is in fine order. Cover glass is slightly convex, original, fully intact and photos were taken through that glass so a few glares. I have not taken her from her box nor mount.
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.
