Regency Tortoiseshell-Veneered Cigar or Jewelry Case With Domed Lid C. 1810

Details

Description

This refined cigar or jewelry case is crafted in the Regency taste and clad throughout in richly mottled tortoiseshell veneer, … Read more This refined cigar or jewelry case is crafted in the Regency taste and clad throughout in richly mottled tortoiseshell veneer, selected for its deep amber and umber figuring and polished to a soft, lustrous surface. The rectangular form is surmounted by a gently domed lid, a sophisticated profile that elevates the object beyond a purely utilitarian accessory and aligns it with early nineteenth-century luxury boxes made for the gentleman’s dressing room or traveling kit.

The exterior is crisply defined with light-toned stringing framing the lid and body, providing a restrained linear contrast to the organic tortoiseshell patterning. The case opens on a full-width hinge to reveal a neatly fitted interior lined in warm red velvet, intended to cushion and protect cigars while reinforcing the object’s association with refined leisure and connoisseurship. The lid interior retains a corresponding veneered panel bordered by a twisted cord detail, a decorative flourish typical of higher-quality English and Continental work of the period.

Raised on small bun feet and finished with a discreet front closure, the case demonstrates careful attention to proportion, symmetry, and tactile finish. The use of tortoiseshell veneer over a wooden substrate reflects established Georgian and Regency cabinetmaking practices, in which exotic materials were applied sparingly but to dramatic effect.

Measurements
4.125 inches wide x 3.125 inches deep x 1.75 inches high See less