19th Century Tortoiseshell & Ivory/Bone Carnet de Bal / Dance Card with Silver Cartouche and Chain
19th Century Tortoiseshell & Ivory/Bone Carnet de Bal / Dance Card with Silver Cartouche and Chain
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Item: 19th Century Tortoiseshell & Ivory Carnet de Bal / Dance Card with Silver Cartouche and Chain
Additional Description
A beautifully preserved 19th-century carnet de bal, or dance card, fashioned from richly mottled tortoiseshell and fitted with a fan of small ivory writing tablets.
The petite rectangular case is formed from scalloped tortoiseshell covers in deep brown, black, amber, and honey tones. The front is embellished with an elegant silver cartouche, left unmonogrammed, while the upper edge is fitted with a small metal pivot and original suspension chain.
Opening the case reveals a series of thin ivory tablets that fan outward from the side binding. These smooth leaves were designed to be written upon in pencil, allowing a lady to record the names of dance partners and the order of dances during a formal ball. The tablets are secured by a coiled metal binding along one side, giving the object both flexibility and a wonderfully tactile quality.
The surviving chain allowed the carnet to be worn from the wrist or attached to a chatelaine, making it both practical and decorative. Its compact scale and jewel-like materials make it a particularly charming example of the fashionable personal accessories associated with 19th-century European social life.
Era
Circa 1850–1880
Origin
Continental European, likely French or English
Object Type
Carnet de bal / dance card / aide-mémoire
Materials
- Tortoiseshell
- Ivory writing tablets
- Silver or silver-colored metal cartouche
- Metal spiral binding
- Suspension chain
History
A carnet de bal was a small notebook or tablet carried by women attending formal balls. Its leaves were used to record promised dances and the names of partners throughout the evening.
By the 19th century, these practical objects had become fashionable accessories in their own right and were often made from luxury materials including tortoiseshell, ivory, mother-of-pearl, silver, enamel, and gold. Many were suspended from the wrist or attached to a chatelaine so they could remain close at hand during a dance.
The smooth ivory tablets could be written on in pencil and often erased for reuse, making this type of carnet both functional and highly personal.
Marks / Inscriptions
Unengraved silver cartouche to front.
No visible maker’s mark observed in the photographs provided.
Dimensions
Please add:
___” H × ___” W × ___” D
Condition
Good antique condition considering the delicate construction and age. The tortoiseshell retains rich coloration and attractive translucency with expected surface scratches, rubbing, and minor edge wear.
The ivory tablets show age-related toning, surface marks, graphite traces, and wear consistent with use. The metal spiral binding and chain show expected oxidation and darkening. The silver cartouche exhibits light rubbing and surface wear.
Please review all photographs closely as they form part of the condition description.
Provenance
Continental Europe, mid-to-late 19th century.
Disclaimers
The tortoiseshell and ivory identifications are based on visual examination and have not been scientifically tested.
Both tortoiseshell and elephant ivory are regulated wildlife materials. Sale, shipment, and export may be restricted depending on jurisdiction. International shipment should not be offered without confirming applicable CITES and other legal requirements.
The silver cartouche has not been tested for fineness and is therefore described conservatively unless hallmarks are identified.
Item: 19th Century Tortoiseshell & Ivory Carnet de Bal / Dance Card with Silver Cartouche and Chain
Additional Description
A beautifully preserved 19th-century carnet de bal, or dance card, fashioned from richly mottled tortoiseshell and fitted with a fan of small ivory writing tablets.
The petite rectangular case is formed from scalloped tortoiseshell covers in deep brown, black, amber, and honey tones. The front is embellished with an elegant silver cartouche, left unmonogrammed, while the upper edge is fitted with a small metal pivot and original suspension chain.
Opening the case reveals a series of thin ivory tablets that fan outward from the side binding. These smooth leaves were designed to be written upon in pencil, allowing a lady to record the names of dance partners and the order of dances during a formal ball. The tablets are secured by a coiled metal binding along one side, giving the object both flexibility and a wonderfully tactile quality.
The surviving chain allowed the carnet to be worn from the wrist or attached to a chatelaine, making it both practical and decorative. Its compact scale and jewel-like materials make it a particularly charming example of the fashionable personal accessories associated with 19th-century European social life.
Era
Circa 1850–1880
Origin
Continental European, likely French or English
Object Type
Carnet de bal / dance card / aide-mémoire
Materials
- Tortoiseshell
- Ivory writing tablets
- Silver or silver-colored metal cartouche
- Metal spiral binding
- Suspension chain
History
A carnet de bal was a small notebook or tablet carried by women attending formal balls. Its leaves were used to record promised dances and the names of partners throughout the evening.
By the 19th century, these practical objects had become fashionable accessories in their own right and were often made from luxury materials including tortoiseshell, ivory, mother-of-pearl, silver, enamel, and gold. Many were suspended from the wrist or attached to a chatelaine so they could remain close at hand during a dance.
The smooth ivory tablets could be written on in pencil and often erased for reuse, making this type of carnet both functional and highly personal.
Marks / Inscriptions
Unengraved silver cartouche to front.
No visible maker’s mark observed in the photographs provided.
Dimensions
Please add:
___” H × ___” W × ___” D
Condition
Good antique condition considering the delicate construction and age. The tortoiseshell retains rich coloration and attractive translucency with expected surface scratches, rubbing, and minor edge wear.
The ivory tablets show age-related toning, surface marks, graphite traces, and wear consistent with use. The metal spiral binding and chain show expected oxidation and darkening. The silver cartouche exhibits light rubbing and surface wear.
Please review all photographs closely as they form part of the condition description.
Provenance
Continental Europe, mid-to-late 19th century.
Disclaimers
The tortoiseshell and ivory identifications are based on visual examination and have not been scientifically tested.
Both tortoiseshell and elephant ivory are regulated wildlife materials. Sale, shipment, and export may be restricted depending on jurisdiction. International shipment should not be offered without confirming applicable CITES and other legal requirements.
The silver cartouche has not been tested for fineness and is therefore described conservatively unless hallmarks are identified.