One of the very finest from my own collections! A spectacular set in unused condition, which is quite incredibly rare. You know I only search out the very best for you, and this c.1790-1810 French desk set or writer's set certainly fills my goal there. Sculptures, all, works of art - the set has elaborately worked gold niello blade on the page cutter or letter opener, as you would think of it now. Each side is different and are shown enlarged for your enjoyment. Tilted in light, there is also a gorgeous bluish refraction of light on that blade. Dip pen only needs the nib and I have a bunch of antique ones and will pull one that fits and include it in one of the nib/was compartments in the box. Entirely hand carved handles of tortoise shell are each inlaid with 18k gold pique, marquetry. The ferules (fittings joining handles to implement) are in fine silver with 18k gold layer (vermeil) and I have not even polished them so very slight tarnish shows slightly. I don't think the set has ever been used at all. The wax seal (sceau) has no engraved matrix, and the paper scraper is without any corrosion and very sharp (the way they erased was to scraper the 100% cotton rag paper and remove the errors, write over them). Full measurements noted on the photos.
Very good to excellent condition throughout, both the old original presentation box and also all 4 desk top writer's tools. Interior silk satin and velvet lining is so clean, it seems like it's never been opened, however, there should be 2 tiny handles on the 2 compartment covers (one for sealing wax and one for dip-pen nibs). The carved tortoise shell handles are like fine old jewelry, so beautifully crafted - not a chip nor hairline nor flaw anywhere. I acid-tested a tiny inlay and it did test as 18k gold, so there's also that detail to consider. Both sides of the page cutter (letter opener) are just perfect, each figural and so elegant. Somewhere through time some owners have written of bottom of box, and it really only shows with a side-lighted angle, which I've shown in photos. A real treasure, this!
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.
