Sterling silver and tortoise shell three piece dressing table…
click the photo to enlarge
sterling silver and tortoise shell three piece dressing table set

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.

Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item

When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

This item has been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.
  • Sterling Silver - Sterling silver is a mixture of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% of another metal, usually copper. Fine silver is 99.9% pure silver, and is relatively soft and the addition of the very small amount of copper gives the metal enough strength and hardness to be worked into jewellery, decorative and household objects.
  • Tortoiseshell - Tortoiseshell is a translucent material that comes from the horny carapace of a certain types of turtles, including the hawksbill turtle. It is often therefore mounted on a colour underground - often red - or inlaid with gold or silver thread, as seen in Boulle furniture.

    The texture and colour nuances of the material are extremely important. Heated tortoiseshell can easily be formed into various shapes. Like other natural materials, tortoiseshell becomes more beautiful with use. In a time before plastic, tortoiseshell was widely used for small objects such as combs and powder compacts.

    In 1973, the trade of tortoiseshell worldwide was banned under CITES (The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species). Prior to importing or exporting items containing tortoiseshell a CITES permit must be obtained. Tortoiseshell items cannot be traded on Ebay.

    "Faux tortoiseshell", another case of man initiating nature, is made from old-style plastics such as celluloid and cellulos and is coloured with red, yellow and brown spots to imitate the genuine article. It is commonly used in glasses frames, musical instruments and costume jewellery.

This item has been included into following indexes:

Visually similar items

A Victorian sterling silver boxed christening spoon and fork by Coleen Cheshire, Birmingham 1879/82

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

A Must de Cartier Ladywatch, black dial, Swiss quartz movement, 18ct gold plated, sapphire cabochon crown, with a Michel Herbelin black leather bracelet, numbered 17 064177.

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

Boxed Victorian hallmarked sterling silver Christening set, hallmarked Birmingham 1876, maker Colen Hewer, Cheshire. Spoon & fork with engraved leaves decoration. Box for Flavelle Brothers & Roberts. Wt. 48g (silver only)

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

Hallmarked sterling silver gentleman's cutlery set comprising 5 pieces, in original box. Hallmarked sterling silver Sheffield 1907, maker HA

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.