c. 1730s French Baroque TORTOISE SHELL Snuff Box SILVER & GOLD PIQUE TABATIERE Ecaille Tortoiseshell Magnificent!

Antiques : Box, Casket, Caddy : Tortoise Shell

 

What a glorious find! A magnificent, early 18th century French, tortoise shell, snuff box with very fine, delicately engraved gold and silver piqué inlay in the baroque style of the period. The central figure of the design features a mythical goddess in silver, riding in a golden boat off the coast of an island at sea. The figure is decoratively offset with a pair of birds and mermaids in nacre - mother of pearl. Below the boat are silver waves blending into acanthus leaf motifs, which circle the lid just inside an outer silver and nacre border. The silver is all engraved with further designs. If you look closely, you can even see the engraved face and chest of the goddess! A silver rim and hinge complete the lid... a very intricate and delicate work of the absolutely finest detail! The very best!

Length c. 3 3/8 in. (8.2 cm.); Height c. 1 in. (2.5 cm.); Width with hinge 1 7/8 in. (4.7 cm.)

Objects with very small amounts of silver and/or gold were not required to be hallmarked in France, and this example is not hallmarked. This suggests to me that this a French piece, though the English did similar work. The shell case is in near mint condition. There is a small loss to the silver inlay border at the top and the expected wear to the silver at the center of the lid, from opening the box. There is very little wear on the outer surface of the tortoise shell; the inside of the shell bears scratches from the fingers which partook of the snuff. There is a very short .5 cm. hairline at the rim of the shell on the right side. It is tight and shows no sign of breaking open. An age crack in the nacre on the top "island" appears similarly unlikely to dislodge. The hinge works and the lid closes properly. The snuff box is in remarkable condition for its age, which probably dates to circa 1730s. PLEASE CLICK ON THE THUMBNAIL FOR LARGE PHOTOS.

Item ID: 0906-014