Rare 18th Century Portrait Miniature in Tortoise Shell Snuff or Patch Box, Heavy 18k Gold Fittings

Museum quality, and one of my favorite snuff boxes or patch boxes in my collection. The beauty you see here is so close to pristine, a museum would be fortunate to have it in collection. All those heavy fittings and the mat are worked in 18k gold. A mark we are, even now, still researching. Purchased in Germany, they thought it was French but I’m unsure that the gold marks confirm it. I’ve acid tested and confirmed 18k, and it’s heavy cast. The old deep chocolate tortoise shell is dark as ebony, still with crisp edges and in beautiful condition. While this appears to be a snuff box, and is is most definitely last half of 1700s, the placement of a mirror inside the lid makes me think it is a Patch box, instead. Surprisingly the mirror is even in fine form. A top quality piece, this! Full measurements are noted on the photos. 

Very good to excellent condition throughout, without notable flaws apart from 2 insignificant and truly minuscule nips to bottom outer rim, more to be seen with loupe than even felt with finger. Very slight marks from use can be noted on the 18k gold mat surrounding the elegantly painted portrait. I did not remove him from box, fearing I’d add to those. All photos of the portrait are done through a convex original cover glass, and still they’re exquisite. A face only 3/4″ chin to hairline, when blown up as we do, should not look so perfect. The miniaturists, often obscure and unsigned, were truly magical at their art. 

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.