19th Century Tortoise Shell Etui, a Purse, Superb Interior and Pique with Crown Cartouche
From the outside one might expect this one to open and reveal itself to be a carnet du bal, or maybe a calling card case with a ivory sleeve for taking notes - a necessaire of sorts, but this one has a surprise! The slightly oversized case is actually a purse or vanity 'bag', fitted out inside with pocketed moire silk liner panels on each side, some leather- lined. There's even a little vanity mirror, the old original of course, and a surprising arrangement of pouches, pleated folders/spaces for calling cards or whatever. There's a gathered holder for a lipstick, too, albeit a tiny one. Great isn't it! The exterior is beautiful high chocolate color shell, of course, exquisitely inlaid with a cartouche of pique flowers in several colors of metal (sterling, gilted or gold rolled - likely karat gold but not tested) and on the other side is a raised silver crest of sorts with a crown top and wings. We don't know whose crest this is, or what it signifies, but it is really spectacular. Band