A stunning small jewelry or perhaps cigars box, casket, still in excellent condition and with the original working lock and key. This is a jewel of a box, veneered beautifully, set with engraved brass cartouche in inlays up top, a monogram of C D, and the most opulent edging in cast more bronze. The box brings all the elegance of the early to mid-1800s, from which it hails, and remains in lovely condition. Tortoise shell interior, spectacular rare box.
Very good to excellent condition throughout, with only a nod to a slight shading on the upper right corner area of the top of the box, to the back. Review our images to see what I mean. It barely shows but we want to mention. There are some typical shrinkage hairlines throughout, also typical of the materials used. The celeste blue stringing is so beautiful, and remains as you see it, lovely as accent again the off-white. Beautiful pique work on this one, and an elaborately engraved cartouche with the hand engraved monogram, "C D" at center. Working lock, original key. The box is perfect to present cigars, I think, and I suspect that was its original use, if not as a fabulous bonboniere or chocolatier's or confectioner's presentation box. Dates to c. 1830-50, no maker mark on the lock plate, but isn't it just top notch! It is 5" x 3.3? and is 2" high when closed. No warp, lovely in it's aged presentation with a bit of darkening to the surface being noted.
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. We do hold a USDFW import/export license, as well.
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.
