Antique c.1800 French Necessaire, Vanity Etui w Scent Perfume Bottle, Etc.
I've collected these for decades. The little vest pocket "necessaire" of the late 1700s to earliest 1800s. This one is exceptionally find and complete but for a small pocket knife. You can see the openings in our photos, and note that all of the other originals are there. Scent flask, stylus/pencil, 2-page note pad, hinged and with some writing still visible, tweezers and a toothpick with ear wax spoon on other end, another similar but with bodkin stringing opening for ribbon. I think the stylus which would have been a metal pointed piece has been replaced with a later era pencil of wood. Very good to excellent condition for age and type. The case (etui) itself is in remarkably fine condition on this one. All pique work still there and no missing panels or cracks. I see one tiny bug bite on that bottom panel's rim, and that's all. The coloration is a rich chocolate to cognac mottle which is everyone's favorite. Beautiful crafted, and not even a tiny chip on that scent or salts flask wh