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Item Number: 2171
Dimensions : 10 5/8” Dia x 18 7/8” H
Mirror with 7” Dia.
One side of the glass is beveled. Hallmarks indicate the silversmith was registered in London, England.
About Tortoiseshell:
Tortoiseshell is the polished shell (upper shell and the lower belly) of the Hawksbill sea turtle, the smallest of the marine turtles. It has been used as inlay and to make small decorative objects since the 17th century.
Tortoiseshell was one of the finest and most popular materials from 1770 – 1880. Tortoiseshell was extremely difficult to work with and the people who bought tortoiseshell items in the period they were made, were exceptionally wealthy (usually Royalty). Items made from tortoiseshell were only sold by high end retailers such as Asprey’s, Tiffany’s and Cartier.
The inlaid silver motifs (known as pique work) in many tortoiseshell items often portrayed styles and designs from other continents and gave an insight into the sort of things the wealthy had seen during their travels.
Pique (pronounced pee-kay) was a technique of decorating tortoiseshell with a fine inlay of gold or silver and was extremely popular in the 1820’s and 1870’s. Since pique is not being reproduced, items with pique work are highly collectible and will most assuredly continue to appreciate in value.
The Hawksbill turtle is one of the six species of sea turtles that are federally protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. As a result, tortoiseshell has increased in value and become even more collectible. Period tortoiseshell items are rare and extremely hard to find (especially in good condition) and prized by all who understand its significance.
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