A beautiful old Napoleon III (c.1850-70) French sewing set in the original elegant tortoise shell case (etui), complete with a thimble that I'm sure is a replacement. The set is in .800/1000 French silver (boar's head mark), layered with 18k gold which is remarkably fine and intact on this set. The process is called 'vermeil'. The look of 18k gold, but not the high cost. The etui is so beautiful on this one, but it does have a little damage (see our images where you'll note chips to the area at side of the piano hinged back). Even so, displays nicely. Measurements are noted on the photos.
Very good condition for age and type. No bug bites at all on the beautifully worked old tortoiseshell case, and interior is very nice. No lifts to the inlays. It does, however, have 2 flaws at back near the piano hinge, marked for your review. The sewing items are in fine condition but for a very old restoration to one handle. It appears to have been internally posted and does display beautifully. I'm not certain if I would use them, however. As noted, the thimble is a replacement, I'm sure. It doesn't match the color of the gold layer on other pieces correctly. Would have been a very opulent set when new. And does display just beautifully. No other dents or dings or flaws. Measurements noted on 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.
