Late 1700s to earliest 1800s Snuff box, a 4 1/8" long navette trimmed out in 18k gold around the stone cartouche, and a very fine framework, hinge and clasp. Inlaid pique and strings of silver adorn the lid. The stone setting is slightly convex and highly polished. I think I am right that it is sardonyx, but if you recognize the stone, please let me know. In one of our photos it appears to have a crack, but whatever that was that caught light, it is not cracked and is undamaged. A beautiful old thing, chocolate tortoise shell. Full measurements noted on the photos.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type, one from my own longtime collections. Surprising good condition throughout, appearance of perhaps a little repair at the hinge, but it fits perfectly, is solid and complete. No bug bites, no chips or cracks in the shell.
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.
