The delicate face of the angel or putto with wings at sides is a beautiful old Dieppe carver's work of art. A little sculpture with beautiful face, dimples, and was thought to be protective. These solid and also hollow-formed carved ivory crosses were traditionally hung above a cradle to protect an infant from harm. Popular through the last half of 1800s, Victorian, or Napoleon III era, this one is one of the hollow carved ones. It would have had a carved ivory ring through the holes in that top ball, but that part has been lost to time. Sometimes we see the same putto with wings made into a brooch or jewelry item.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type. No age cracks or hairlines, which is unusual for the material as it often ages and dries and hairlines form naturally. Other than the tiniest little flaw at joint of one end-piece of the cross, there isn't a single flaw to note. No chips or flaws to the carved figure. I've marked the single flaw with an x so you can review it - it's tiny, at joint. Larger than many, it is 7" tall as you see it, and 4" widest. Other measurements are also on the photos.
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.
