Antique Tortoiseshell Card Case
Antique Tortoiseshell Card Case
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This is a visiting card case, the kind a Victorian caller kept in a pocket or bag. The lid carries a monogram on an inlaid furled card, with flowers and a small insect off to one side, the lopsided arrangement the Aesthetic Movement borrowed from Japanese design. It opens on a long hinge and holds a stack of cards.
Antique condition consistent with age and use, with losses to the shell. The back panel has heavy swirl scratching and small spots of surface loss. At both ends of the hinge, the shell beside the pins has pitted and broken away, most noticeably at the corner nearest the spine, where a ragged patch of shell is missing. There is smaller loss along the top edge. The interior has a small chip at the left edge near the hinge and light wear at the rim. The lid has a small pit beside the inlaid panel. The shell has been polished at some point, and I can’t say when or how. The hinges themselves are intact, and the zigzag on them is engraved decoration. There is no lining, no dividers, and no card slots. I haven’t tested the metal, so I am not calling it silver. Please review all photographs closely, as they form part of this description.
Shipping & Returns
All antique and vintage items are shipped from our warehouse in Bluffdale, Utah. Each piece is carefully packed by hand using archival materials and custom crating when necessary.
Shipping costs are calculated at checkout based on the size and weight of the item. Local pickup is available at the AMD Warehouse.
Furniture is the exception. Because of size and weight, furniture shipping is quoted separately rather than calculated at checkout. Send a DM on Instagram or email austynmariedesign@gmail.com for a quote, or arrange your own shipping from the warehouse.
All sales of antique and vintage items are final due to their unique, one-of-a-kind nature. Illuminé candles and The Collector's Guide may be returned within 14 days of delivery if unopened and in original condition.
If your piece arrives damaged, please photograph the damage immediately (including packaging), contact us within 48 hours at austynmariedesign@gmail.com, and do not discard any packaging.
Important Info About Antique & Vintage
Every antique and vintage item we carry has lived a life before arriving in your home. These are not factory-made products. They are objects with history, character, and the marks of time.
Age-appropriate wear, patina, minor imperfections, and signs of previous use or repair are inherent to antique and vintage items and are not considered defects. These characteristics are part of what makes each piece unique and are often what give it its beauty and value.
We describe the condition of each piece as accurately as possible in the listing. If you have specific questions about a piece before purchasing, please reach out. We are always happy to provide additional photos or details.
Colors may appear slightly different on screen due to monitor settings and photography lighting. We do our best to represent each item accurately.
Descriptions, dates, attributions, materials, and measurements are provided in good faith and reflect our best assessment based on research, physical examination, and the information available to us. Antique and vintage pieces often carry incomplete or unverifiable histories. Where a detail is an assessment rather than a confirmed fact, it is identified as such. Measurements are approximate. All items are sold as-is, with the photographs and condition report governing.
