Probably an English piece, originally, this beautiful oversized sewing etui is deliciously deep dark and chocolate colored shell mottled with cognac - my favorite combination of colors in shell. It has scissors inside which I don't think are original to it, and ivory items which I do believe are original and which fit perfectly into their appointed spots. This one, along with your other fine sewing antiques or shell boxes, when grouped with yours on a tabletop, is a superb accent to your collection - to your home! All the designer books and magazines are showing tons of shell this year, as always. It just never seems to go down in value or appeal. The interior is resplendent in its original fitted silk liner, but seems to have extra padding in the top half now, preventing the thimble fitted space's ability to close when filled with a thimble. I think someone has re- padded it rather than leaving the unpadded space in the lid which allows for the width of the thimble. We can work on it, but at listing time, the case will not close easily or well with thimble inside.
The shell is in very good condition throughout. No chips or cracks or losses to the beautiful old case. No restorations to the shell. Hinge and clasp are both fine. A great sewing treasure! Rich shine to that chocolate shell, too - beautiful!
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. We do hold a valid USFWS license, as well, for import/export, but additional time is required for export, and we are not exporting at this time.
