I've tested the gold pique work, which is both elaborate and substantial on this snuff box, and it is 12k. I have not tested the oval mat, am certain it is at least 12k or higher, however. I never like to scrape a beautifully preserved old gold mount, and I have not taken him out of his convex glass-covered mount to be able to either test that gold, nor to get a much nicer photo of this man without glares from the cover glass. The portrait is nicer than my photos, amazingly detailed, a slim fringe of lace on his cravat done so delicately, and a bit of 5 o'clock shadow. Incredible portrait is only 1 3/8" x 1 1/8" in that aperture, and his face is 1/2", chin to hairline.
Very good to excellent condition, no loss or damage at all to the nearly 300 year old tortoise shell snuff box. No visible damage at all to the cover glass or painting. The gold work is quite remarkable, complete. There is one tiny spot on lid's outer rim at about the 3 o'clock position which has a tiny disruption of gold, a little ding to the band of gold, visible in our photos for your review. A little work of art, both the artist's painting and the goldsmith's arts on this one. A lot of gold!
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.
