Antique c.1700s French Tortoise Shell and Sterling Silver Patch or Snuff Box, Navette
Mid to late 1700s French navette-shaped patch box or toothpick etui (usually had a mirror fitted inside lid), perhaps snuff box since this one is 3" long, elegant mottled cognac to chocolate tortoise shell with entirely hand worked sterling silver hinge and frame mount. excellent condition, rare to find. This one is from my own lifelong collections, and is gorgeous. Found in France decades ago, it's time to disburse now. In it's time, meant for patches, those small or various-sized black round dots used to adorn the face in c.1750-70's fashion. Some would tell you they're just beauty spots, and others will explain they were to cover blemishes caused by STDs, rampant in the Louis XIV to Louis XVI eras. "The French disease", as it was known passed with the intimacies of courtiers' and kings' dalliances. Little French niceties, so well made, they're very highly sought after still today. This one is museum worthy. Very good to excellent condition for age and type, over 250 years treasure