Antique Victorian Era French Calling Card Case, Tortoise Shell, Mother of Pearl, Skull
A typical c.1840-60s calling card case, 4" x 3" so it will even fit today's business cards. A splendid veneer marquetry combining fine tortoise shell, mother of pearl and abalone shell. This one will draw every eye! And not the least because it has that mother of pearl skull on one side. Do you think it was a member of a secret club whose sign was a skull, or would that be too conspiracy-theory-ish? What we know for certain is that, among these types of Victorian era cases, this one stands out as the most ornate and finely crafted, as well as well kept. Not a bit of loss to the shell veneers. The marquetry is complicated, thrilling. One side, the more benign, has a done perched on a stylized urn of sorts. Full measurements are on the photos. Very good to excellent condition throughout. Not a single panel of carved/cut shell missing on this one, and the coloration is truly stunning. It's a flash of brilliant colors, including that chocolate to cognac coloration of the old tortoise sh