This wonderful old set is French and came from an area of Paris called the Palais Royal. The classically styled box is beautifully grained burlwood with an inlaid mother of pearl key escutcheon. Inside is a lift out tray fitted for the needlework tools. It is lined in the original silk velvet in an unusual pale blue color scheme. The four corners are embroidered with silk ribbon gold wire, gold beads and pearls. The winder spaces have mirrors beneath and are lined with blue and white silk chenille. The mirror in the top (also original) is lined with the same chenille. The little steel snips are replacements but the other tools all fit their spaces properly and I think are original.
The overall condition of the box is excellent with no chips, cracks or loss. The lining papers, handle, hinges and lock all look to be original. There is no key. The wood grain and patina are lovely and it measures 8 5/8" long by 6 3/8" wide by 4 3/4" high. It has a music box mounted in the bottom and it winds from underneath with a key (included). It plays beautifully and seems to have more than one song.
The tools include mother of pearl scissors, needle case, stiletto, bodkin, 2 silk winders, perfume bottle, steel snips, a tambour/crochet hook and thimble. The thimble is mounted with an enameled gold pansy. The scent bottle has its glass stopper and is in great condition with no cracks or loss. The thimble is about an American size 6. The scissors have tight blades and intact points. They and the snips both cut pretty well. The mother of pearl is beautifully luminous. I have searched for flaws and this is what I found. The thimble has a minor chipped area under the rim that has been repaired. The needle case has some natural flaws in the mother of pearl that show up as dark spots. The bottom has a crack, but that also looks like it might be a natural flaw rather than damage. The bodkin has been repaired. The other tools are all in excellent condition with no chips, cracks or loss. All of the pieces of the tambour hook screw together properly. Postage includes Registered shipping for non US addresses and insured shipping within the US.
