Rare Antique French Writer's Chest, Palais Royal Casket with 18k Mother of Pearl Tools, Inkwells, Wax Seal

Late 1700s to earliest 1800s, this elegant "necessaire" desk top slope opens to reveal the original Palais Royal mother of pearl and 18k gold trimmed writer's implements. Inkwells are original, too. Items include the letter opener/paper knife, which as you can see does have a break; eraser tool to scrape the ink error from paper, wax seal without monogram on the matrix; quill knife; stiletto for punching holes in multiple pages of documents which would then be sewn like a modern staple. The tray lifts out for paper, sealing wax storage, and the compartment between inkwells is for pen handles and quills, stylus. Paper interior lining, a mirror in the lid which is surrounded by the original chenille. The mirror is likely a replacement, as the very old ones were thin glass and usually lost silvering. The mirror is excellent in this one. Add the beauty of the fine burled and lemonwood contrasting chest and the presence of both a working lock and its original key - you just can't find these