An intriguing faux tortoiseshell pin box shaped like a turtle

CONDITION: good vintage condition with expected wear

SIZE: 4¼ ins l x 3 ins w (10.5 x 7.5 cm)

APPROXIMATE DATE: mid 20th century

MATERIALS: celluloid

DESCRIPTION:

Here is an intriguing faux tortoiseshell trinket or pin box in the form of a tortoise or turtle. The shell of the creature is hinged at one side, and lifts to reveal a small hollow for keepsakes. Such items are difficult to date exactly but my guess would be the mid 20th century. I can recall having such ornaments in pottery when I was a small child in the 1950s.

It would make a pretty ornament for the dressing table.

By this period genuine tortoiseshell had become very expensive. Therefore most of the hair ornaments which appear to be made of tortoise are, in fact, made from synthetics. These faux tortoise combs are some of the prettiest to be. Some of them are very convincing and difficult to distinguish from the genuine material, and are skillfully treated to imitate the brown and orange mottling of genuine tortoiseshell.