Ladies tortoiseshell aide memoire inlaid with silver and gold

Description

Ladies tortoiseshell aide memoire inlaid with silver and gold. Item 4786.The front and rear tortoiseshell covers of this very good quality ladies aide memoire are held within an engraved gold frame. Inlaid to both covers is a rectangle of twisted silver wire giving a rope like frame and the front cover carries two silver cartouches surrounded by stylised foliage. These cartouches were for the owner’ initials. Closure of the aide memoire is done by inserting the 9 carat gold propelling pencil into the loops on either side. Internally it is lined with a golden beige coloured watered, or moire silk. There is a compartment for calling or visiting cards, and a covered notebook. On the front page of the notebook is written a series of initials above the date “Christmas 1884”. The height is 95 mm (3.75 inches), the width 65 mm (2.5 inches), the thickness is 15 mm (5/8ths of an inch) and it is in very good condition. Made in France it would date from the early 1880’s.