Antique French Grand Tour Souvenir Card Case, Tortoise Shell Necessaire Tortoiseshell
With one of the most lovely and perfectly executed miniature paintings we've seen, this Paris Grand Tour souvenir 'necessaire' or note pad/card case with stylus intact, is a fabulous addition to your collection (or mine!). The image you see so nicely rendered ther on the wafer that is protected still by its glass cover plate, is the Madeleine Church, one of the most famous of all architectural sites in Paris. Rarely do these eglomise souvenir paintings capture the form, detail and perspective so well as does this one. Housed atop a 'necessaire' or card case and notebook combo, popular style for Mid- 1800s Paris, this one is appealing for so many reasons. There is an unmonogrammed silver double-shield cartouche on that beautiful backside, yet to be engraved with initials. You can make it yours! Very good condition, age and type considered. The cover is just stunning, from glass-covered painting to the rest of this cover. There is a flaw on the front cover, noted in our images, sligh