19th Century French Faux Tortoiseshell and Silver Piqué Aide-Mémoire
19th Century French Faux Tortoiseshell and Silver Piqué Aide-Mémoire
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Item: 19th Century French Tortoiseshell & Silver Piqué Aide-Mémoire / Carnet de Bal with Original Pencil, Circa 1870–1880
Additional Description
A particularly charming French tortoiseshell aide-mémoire, or carnet de bal, dating to the second half of the 19th century and retaining its original fitted interior and pencil.
The rectangular case is faced in richly mottled tortoiseshell, beautifully translucent in warm amber, cognac, and deep brown tones. The front is embellished with delicate silver piqué inlay, including a floral spray, leafy stems, a small bird in flight, and a central engraved tablet or letter motif, giving the piece the appearance of a miniature work of jewelry.
Opening the case reveals a vivid blue silk-lined interior with gusseted pockets for calling cards or notes, together with a small printed weekly memorandum booklet. The surviving pages are charmingly printed with the days of the week in French — Mercredi, Jeudi, Vendredi, Samedi — each surrounded by engraved floral wreaths.
A slender original pencil or stylus is retained in the side loops and functions as part of the closure system, an important and highly desirable survival. Comparable French examples from circa 1880 are documented with tortoiseshell covers, silver piqué decoration, silk interiors, weekday notebooks, and pencils used to secure the case. Sellingantiques
Era
Circa 1870–1880
Origin
France
Style
Napoleon III / early French Third Republic
Object Type
Aide-mémoire / carnet de bal / pocket memorandum book
Materials
- Tortoiseshell
- Silver piqué inlay
- Blue silk / satin lining
- Paper memorandum booklet
- Metal-mounted pencil or stylus
History
A carnet de bal was a small personal notebook carried by fashionable women during the 19th century, originally used at balls to record the order of dances and the names of partners. Closely related aide-mémoires were also used for appointments, calling cards, social engagements, and personal notes.
Luxury examples were often made by French tabletiers in tortoiseshell, mother-of-pearl, ivory, and precious metals. Many were fitted with silk-lined pockets and a removable pencil, which sometimes doubled as the fastening mechanism. Surviving examples with their original pages and pencils are particularly desirable because these small components were frequently lost over time. Antiques & Uncommon Treasure
The blue silk lining and French weekday pages make this example especially evocative of its original use as a fashionable personal accessory.
Marks / Inscriptions
Printed weekday pages in French, including:
Mercredi
Jeudi
Vendredi
Samedi
No visible maker’s mark observed in the photographs provided.
Dimensions
Please add:
___” H × ___” W × ___” D
Condition
Good antique condition considering its approximately 150 years of age. The tortoiseshell shows expected surface scratches, small marks, and light edge wear. Some loss or wear is visible to portions of the silver piqué decoration.
The blue silk interior remains strikingly vivid but shows age-related wear, discoloration, and minor separation in places. The paper memorandum booklet shows expected toning, handling wear, and minor edge losses. The pencil or stylus remains present, which is a significant positive.
Please review all photographs closely as they form part of the condition description.
Provenance
France, second half of the 19th century.
Disclaimers
The tortoiseshell attribution is based on visual examination and has not been scientifically tested.
Tortoiseshell is a regulated wildlife material, and sale or shipment may be restricted in certain jurisdictions. International shipment should not be offered without confirming applicable CITES and import/export requirements.
Dating is based on construction, materials, decorative style, and comparison with documented French examples of the period.
Item: 19th Century French Tortoiseshell & Silver Piqué Aide-Mémoire / Carnet de Bal with Original Pencil, Circa 1870–1880
Additional Description
A particularly charming French tortoiseshell aide-mémoire, or carnet de bal, dating to the second half of the 19th century and retaining its original fitted interior and pencil.
The rectangular case is faced in richly mottled tortoiseshell, beautifully translucent in warm amber, cognac, and deep brown tones. The front is embellished with delicate silver piqué inlay, including a floral spray, leafy stems, a small bird in flight, and a central engraved tablet or letter motif, giving the piece the appearance of a miniature work of jewelry.
Opening the case reveals a vivid blue silk-lined interior with gusseted pockets for calling cards or notes, together with a small printed weekly memorandum booklet. The surviving pages are charmingly printed with the days of the week in French — Mercredi, Jeudi, Vendredi, Samedi — each surrounded by engraved floral wreaths.
A slender original pencil or stylus is retained in the side loops and functions as part of the closure system, an important and highly desirable survival. Comparable French examples from circa 1880 are documented with tortoiseshell covers, silver piqué decoration, silk interiors, weekday notebooks, and pencils used to secure the case. Sellingantiques
Era
Circa 1870–1880
Origin
France
Style
Napoleon III / early French Third Republic
Object Type
Aide-mémoire / carnet de bal / pocket memorandum book
Materials
- Tortoiseshell
- Silver piqué inlay
- Blue silk / satin lining
- Paper memorandum booklet
- Metal-mounted pencil or stylus
History
A carnet de bal was a small personal notebook carried by fashionable women during the 19th century, originally used at balls to record the order of dances and the names of partners. Closely related aide-mémoires were also used for appointments, calling cards, social engagements, and personal notes.
Luxury examples were often made by French tabletiers in tortoiseshell, mother-of-pearl, ivory, and precious metals. Many were fitted with silk-lined pockets and a removable pencil, which sometimes doubled as the fastening mechanism. Surviving examples with their original pages and pencils are particularly desirable because these small components were frequently lost over time. Antiques & Uncommon Treasure
The blue silk lining and French weekday pages make this example especially evocative of its original use as a fashionable personal accessory.
Marks / Inscriptions
Printed weekday pages in French, including:
Mercredi
Jeudi
Vendredi
Samedi
No visible maker’s mark observed in the photographs provided.
Dimensions
Please add:
___” H × ___” W × ___” D
Condition
Good antique condition considering its approximately 150 years of age. The tortoiseshell shows expected surface scratches, small marks, and light edge wear. Some loss or wear is visible to portions of the silver piqué decoration.
The blue silk interior remains strikingly vivid but shows age-related wear, discoloration, and minor separation in places. The paper memorandum booklet shows expected toning, handling wear, and minor edge losses. The pencil or stylus remains present, which is a significant positive.
Please review all photographs closely as they form part of the condition description.
Provenance
France, second half of the 19th century.
Disclaimers
The tortoiseshell attribution is based on visual examination and has not been scientifically tested.
Tortoiseshell is a regulated wildlife material, and sale or shipment may be restricted in certain jurisdictions. International shipment should not be offered without confirming applicable CITES and import/export requirements.
Dating is based on construction, materials, decorative style, and comparison with documented French examples of the period.