What a superb antique ivory toothpick or patch box! The papered lining still in place, and the 18K gold framed insets of thickly plaited hair are both in place and pristine, as well. The case is, as noted, a patch box. We’re often asked what a patch box is, or what ‘patches’ are, more often. The fashion within France, in particular and later throughout Europe during the mid1700s to early 1800s was to have a noticeable beauty mark. Whlie some very few fortunate souls had them, most applied them along with their makeup, and these were in the form of a black round ‘patch’. A necessary or ‘necessaire’ with the small round black patches was, of course, requisite in any upper-class toilet/vanity, and the patch boxes that remain take on a myriad of shapes, all small boxes. This is one such, and rare enough to be one mounted with memento hair weavings. Surely a token of love or mourning, one most suspects of love in this unusual form. A spectacular collector’s piece. We imported this African elephant tusk ivory treasure from France decades ago, complete with all appropriate CITES certification, even though the French assure me it is not necessary on items over 100 years of age.
Very good to excellent condition throughout, apart from that bit of dirt we didn’t see until it was so enlarged in our photos – of course it will not be there when the piece goes out to its next owner. Sorry for the distraction of a bit of grime there; digital enlargements capture it all!
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.
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