Late 1700s French snuff box, not perfect, but close to it and rare for its age and beauty. The clasp wonton is 18k gold. A marquetry of garden scene with exotic bird is worked in silver, still so pretty. The tortoise shell is deep chocolate, beautifully crafted but has been dropped at some point and does have some very long-ago restoration on one end (see images). Still displays beautifully and owing to age, has been part of my long-enjoyed collections, found decades ago in France. Measurements are noted on the photos.
Very good condition for age and type, as noted above it does have long-ago damage to one side. I've shown it fully in our many photos, but will also tell you that it displays beautifully as it is. Tested at 18k gold, the front decorative plaque remains brilliant. The inlays of silver remain fully intact and not lifted. Interior is very nice. No odors. Smallish in size, age appropriate for c.1760-1800.
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.
