A rare and unique 18th century table snuff box 3" in diameter, silver mounts over fabulous Vernis Martin hand painted, decorated box with foil inlays and 2 tone, pale green and pale blue. A beautiful red tortoise shell liner, a convex cover glass surrounded by cut steel 'gems', and within the aperture you see a try-color 18k gold plaque (appears rather thin) with a landscape that must have been a special memento of someone's home, or a favorite place. The waterfall is silver over the 18k gold panel. I have not removed it to test, but I'm positive it is 18k. Full measurements noted on the photos,
It has been very well kept, 250 years or more, and while there is a little rub loss to the Vernis Martin side panels, which tells us it has been loved well and used often in its time - it is just a superb antique. No breaks, a couple of places of disruption of the centuries on the painted Vernis Martin, and some crazing, which is very typical of these very old ones in this decorative style. One of two of the faceted cut steel aperture 'gems' have gone missing. Interior lip is without loss. Box fits smoothly and well in closure. Superb piece!
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.
