Such a beautiful 19th century tortoise shell coin purse - one from my own collection of decades ago. Try-color pique and inlays remain entirely in place, no losses. The coin purse was typically given to a young girl in the event of her Catholic confirmation. Sometimes they're in a boxed set with prayer book, 'necessaire' note book, or even some in more elaborate sets. Often just the single pieces survive. The shape and condition of this one is special. A fine quality brass fitting remains bright and gold in appearance as you can see. An 18k gold navette on back has not yet been monogrammed. Full measurements noted on our photos.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type, I can report 2 small flaws: a couple of tiny bug bites on the backside bottom of tortoise shell plaque, near the hinge, and the other flaw being split to the silk baffled interior in 2 spots (shown on our photos). This is the type with the enclosure compartment inside, meant for coins. So pretty!
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.
