Traveler's luxury, lacking just 2 tiny tools of being fully complete, this mid-1700s vanity necessaire survives nearly 300 years in exceptional condition. All of the implements within are original to this etui. I see 2 tiny holes unfilled, one of which would be a stylus or pencil, another a bodkin (ribbon-threading needle) or toothpick with ear wax spoon, perhaps. You see a 10k gold snuff spoon (tiny, twisted handle), 10k gold medicine spoon, pocket knife with handle facings of 12k gold, 2-leaf ivory note pad, 12k gold hinge, silver thimble, scissors with heavy 10k gold handles, scent or salts flask with 12k gold cap, and a small 12k gold covered pot about 11 1/8" long and 5/8" in diameter. The original interior fittings, trim and silver mirror inside lid also remain in very good condition, unbroken and present. The outer veneer of the wood body is beautifully clad in rich chocolate to cognac coloration mottled tortoise shell. Fine serpentine shape, something so old made in this way is very rare to find, even more rare in such complete and fine condition. Full measurements noted on the photos.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type. It seemed likely the scissors handle and perfume/salts flask/flacon might test karat gold, possibly the tiny spoon. I did the acid tests and many items are 10k to 12k gold (noted on one of the photos). Thimble is silver. As you can see, a bit of the silvering on the original intact mirror inside lid has crumbled away, but it is unbroken. The elegant steam-formed tortoise shell veneers are complete, none missing, though you can see there are a couple of spots slightly less than perfect, typical of the old material, shrinkage hairlines to show for its centuries. The box does not clasp tightly shut, though it will close smoothly, the catch or latch is not engaging as it originally would have. Hinge strong and working well. A rare museum piece from my own collections.
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.
