This is a special handling of thin natural tortoise shell scales, not as veneer but molded and then mounted into a framework of brass ormolu. They're more fragile and most often, if you find one at all, it will have some loss to the thin shell. This one is not perfect, but it's close, and if you wanted to display it open, you'll probably just never even think about the flaw to its top. That said, no other flaws on this splendid little caddy and one could carefully remove inner lid lining and do a replacement. We'll leave that to next owner. All 4 original perfume flacon, flasks, bottles are intact, and 3 of the 4 still have their stoppers - quite amazing! Full measurements noted on the photos.
Very good condition for age and type, as noted above with loss to the tortoise shell of the top lid. Additionally, one perfume bottle has a crack or a repaired break (see photos for closeup view). Just gorgeous displayed with lid up because the interior is so clean and in excellent for for age. This is nearly 200 years old, remember. A little gem! Perfume collectors, take note!
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.
