Antique French c.1750-1810 Vest Pocket Etui, Nécessaire, Tortoise Shell and Sterling Silver Pique

A stunning fine c.1750-1810 French vest pocket vanity nécessaire, would have been filled with small implements of necessity for the elegant traveler, or gentleman, lady, in its time. The interior items have all gone missing over the centuries, which is very often the case, but the etui, itself is exquisite, and beautifully preserved. It is petit, as these were, and an engineering marvel. Just 3″ long, 1 1/2″ wide and 3/4″ at deepest, an oval form. You can see from the fittings, it would have had a note ivory and stylus, a small measure, a handle and fork, a pocket knife and a small bodkin with ear wax spoon on one end. 

Very good to excellent condition for age and type, the case or etui is as close to perfect as you’ll ever find. Well over 250 years, it hasn’t any lifts of the inlaid silver, and no nips nor chips nor cracks or hairlines on that deep chocolate colored tortoise shell. Hinge and clasp working perfectly. A rare gem from my own collections. 

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.