Antique French Tortoise Shell Mourning Brooch, 18k Gold Pique, Early Victorian Era

An early Victorian era (c.1840s) French made mourning brooch, 35mm in diameter and 8mm thick plus the gold hinge and c-clasp pin back. Lots of inlay marquetry and pique work on this one. Beautifully crafted 18k gold creating an elaborate latticework as central focus, with a border of flowers and leaves encircling the perimeter – some of which have been lost to the centuries. Fine old tortoise shell carved in a deep convex form. That silver pin attached to its brass mount could be replacement (see images for your evaluation). It is typically over-long as a pin, which might indicate it is the original. 

Very good condition for age and type. . I find nothing to report as a flaw. All of that 20mm encircled lattice work is intact and tightly fitted. The remaining border pique workin 18k gold are evenly spaced, each group of 2 tiny flowers and 2 leaves but between each one can see evidence of larger flowers having once been between the clusters of 4 – might be one or 2 fell out and the others were removed to retain a wearable symmetry. Still, it’s a stunning old one, thick and very nicely carved. There is a very small imperfection on the back side of outer perimeter, visible on a few of our photos, very small and does not show from front, or in wear. Nearly 200 years old now. From my own collections, being disbursed.

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.