Antique needle case, with tortoise shell & mother of pearl…
click the photo to enlarge
Antique needle case, with tortoise shell & Mother of pearl decoration, 5 cm high approx.

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.
  • 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.
  • Mother-Of-Pearl - Mother-of-pearl, technical name "nacre", is the inner layer of a sea shell. The iridescent colours and strength of this material were widely used in the nineteenth century as an inlay in jewellery, furniture, (especially papier mache furniture) and musical instruments.

    In the early 1900s it was used to make pearl buttons. Mother-of-pearl is a soft material that is easily cut or engraved.

    Nowadays it is a by-product of the oyster, freshwater pearl mussel and abalone industries.

This item has been included into following indexes:

Visually similar items

A Victorian tortoiseshell tea caddy, serpentine sides, shallow domed cover. Width 12 cm

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

Mendelsson smokers radio. Art Deco louvred side table incorporating radio. Complete. Untested. Height 55 cm. Width 44 cm. Diameter 72 cm

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

Walnut stationary box, brass crest to top, no key, approx 18 cm high, 32 cm wide, 23 cm deep

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

A small 19th century tortoiseshell box containing two small spice jars, the box of oblong form with hinged lid opening to reveal the two small glass jars, one broken, some losses. Width 7 cm

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