French inlaid tortoiseshell ladies aide memoire

Description

French inlaid tortoiseshell ladies aide memoire. Item 4785.This very good quality French inlaid tortoiseshell ladies aide memoire is decorated on the front with pique work that includes two small gold plaques encircled by daintily worked gold flowers and very fine silver wire scrolls. The gold plaques would be for the engraving of the owner’s initials. Covering the remainder of the front is a fabulous pattern of tiny gold points combined with multi-coloured circles of iridescent abalone shell. The inside is lined with blue watered, or moire silk. There is a fold out compartment for the ladies calling, or visiting cards, and the remains of the silk ribbon that once held a little notebook, which is now missing. The two sides are held together with a silver plated propelling pencil passing through loops attached to each side. The pencil still works and has lead in it, but the silver to the top is worn. The height is 100 mm (4 inches), the width 65 mm (2.5 inches) and it is 15 mm thick. The outside is in very good condition, with the inside slightly grubby and it is missing its original pencil. C 1850.