Tortoise Shell Boxes

An 1894 antique Edward Souter Barnsley & Co. sterling silver and tortoiseshell powder box decorated with a silver laurel leaf and bow inset to...

A antique tortoiseshell singing bird box, most probably by Bontems, Going barrel movement, Gilt metal two-tone brilliance... When wound and start/stop slide moved to the right, the bird pops up through foliate chased gilt grille, then proceeds to move bone beak, wings and body from side-to-side to good complex continuous synchronized birdsong. The bird with streaked feathered plumage in brown, yellow, turquoise and red, lime green and purple iridescent highlights, highly polished lid interior for full bird reflection, in plain polished tortoiseshell case, twinned laurel leaf engraved bird lid border with the bird lid engraved with love birds and rose united beneath leaf swag arch, accentuated with gilt on silvered ground, hidden key...

A lovely little antique French Louis XV casket of scarlet tortoiseshell with superb ormolu mounts. Set on ormolu paw feet and with a profusion of ormolu mounts this lovely little box...

1905, England, Unusual and striking Edwardian letter box with leather sides. The curved top and base are mounted with scrolling sterling silver. T...

A dutch tortoiseshell box with two engraved silver plaques Amsterdam, 1691, with maker's mark of Steven des Rousseaux (1654-1733) H. 5 cm Diam. 12.5 cm Note: Steven des ...

Vintage jewelry box in faux tessellated tortoise shell with mother-of-pearl and Abolone shell edge, circa 1970s. Simple, elegant and unique. Bin #N Jj

A beautiful Singing bird box by bontems of Paris, Circa 1900. Tortoisesheel embellished with sterling silver, with silver and enamel lid.

This is a multi layered folding faux tortoise jewelry box with vertical clasps. It’s originally from London, and is meant for compartmentalizing jewe...

Spanish Colonial inlaid bone and faux tortoiseshell domed top box. Original hammered iron hinges. Circa 1680-1740. Excellent condition and very rare.

Stunning Example of a Ladies Well Figure Tortoise Shell Silver Framed Hinged Lid Card Case of generous proportions, made during the first half of the Nineteenth Century. The rectangular hinged cover with lavish silver inlay depicting a trailing branch of flowers and foliage. Condition: Good condition for such an early piece with no losses to inlays, nice surface patination to tortoiseshell. The case closes firmly. Width: (at widest, just over) 5.5" (14cm). Depth: 3” (8cm). ----------------------------------- An oval well figured horn trinket box with separate lid, late Nineteenth Century Condition: Perfect condition, lid closes firmly Width: 4.5” (11.5cms). Depth: 2.25” (5.5cms). ------------------------------------ Rectangular well figured Tortoiseshell hinged lid trinket or snuff box, possibly Regency period Condition: Tiny loss at one corner, otherwise excellent. Width: (just under) 3.5” (8.5cms). ------------------------------------ Rectangular horn and Tortoiseshell Snuff Box...

A spectacular and extremely high quality French 19th century Louis XIV st. Boulle Boîte à Bijoux, signed "Tahan - Fournisseur du Roi" (Royal cabinetmake...

Late 19th century tortoise shell needle case with a mother of pearl inlay. A knife box shape with a hinged lid and a package of the original needles in the original packaging marked ...

Austrian Tortoise shell Silver box Austrian Tortoise shell Silver box in the shape of an envelope with a flap. The flap is with a spring. The box is marked with the Austrian Silve...

English tortoiseshell box. Ovoid shaped lidded snuffbox with integral handle of richly patterned tortoiseshell, England, circa 1900. Dimensions: 3.5...

A beautiful cut crystal jar with a tortoise shell and silver top from a private collection made in England in 1923.

This wonderful example of a 19th century tortoise shell sewing box on stand opens to original fabric lined interior of compartments with a central ...

19th century English tortoiseshell hinged box with silver decorations.

There is much more to this exquisite Georgian snuffbox than meets the eye. Beautifully crafted of striking burlwood, this unassuming box features a lining of precious tortoiseshell and a false bottom, which, when gently unscrewed, reveals a miniature erotic painting of exceptional detail. Erotic antiques...

Early 18th century inlaid Italian walnut and tortoiseshell vargueno. 6 drawers with fine inlay, iron hardware.

Tortoise cigarette and match box with sterling mounts. Priced per box. We also have numerous other tortoise boxes and accessories. Feel free to call or email with questions.

English Georgian Tortoise shell hinged sewing box with a gadrooned molded edge lid, fitted tufted interior, and resting on the original silver plate winged paw feet. Early 19th Century

An extremely rare antique English George III Rococo pressed tortoiseshell, ormolu and Battersea enamel snuff box. This beautiful oblong box is in pristine condition and has been well...

A scintillating Sapphic scene adorns the cover of this rare erotic snuff box. Set into the top of this burlwood and tortoiseshell container, this high...

This mid-19th century French Napoleon III period black lacquer cave a liqueur (liqueur caddy) or tantalus features bronze and tortoiseshell inlaid cartouches on the lid and doors. Ad...

A Victorian silver plate and tortoiseshell basket. And tortoiseshell glove box. The box measures 1.5 inches H x 10.5 inches W x 2 inches D.

This finely engraved and inscribed tortoiseshell music box is a precious piece of French Revolution and Napoleonic history: given as a gift by the Duchess of Gdansk in 1837 to a neph...

- A hugely rare and intimate piece of British history: Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson's snuff box - Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson (1758–1805) is one of the most celebrated figures in British history, best remembered for his heroic efforts during the Napoleonic wars. Nelson's career as a naval officer saw him lead the British fleet to several victories, during which he suffered injuries, including the loss of his right arm and the sight in his right eye. His most famous victory came in October 1805 at the Battle of Trafalgar, in which the Royal Navy decimated the combined fleets of the French and Spanish navies. Prior to the battle, Nelson sent out the famous message "England expects that every man will do his duty". Tragically, he was shot by a French sniper and died on board his ship the HMS Victory mid battle. His body was returned to England where he was granted a state funeral, and numerous monuments were erected in his honor, including Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square, London. This tortoiseshell composition snuff box was originally owned by Lord Nelson, and features a miniature watercolor scene of the Amalfi coast on the top. The box was gifted by Nelson to his personal secretary George Unwin, during a dinner party in Sicily in late 1798 or early 1799 which was also attended by Nelson's mistress, Emma, Lady Hamilton. Nelson had first met Hamilton in 1793 and the pair were reunited in 1798 following the Battle of the Nile. Having been severely injured, Nelson recuperated in Naples, during which time he was nursed back to health by Lady Emma and her elderly husband, Sir William Hamilton. It was during this period that Nelson and Hamilton began their famous love affair, which lasted until Nelson's death at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. It seems highly possible that Nelson gave this gift to Unwin as a show of generosity, in an attempt to impress his mistress over dinner. The snuff box is offered along with a manuscript letter by Unwin's son, George, which reads in full: "My Father had either lost his own snuff box on going ashore or in some shop in Palermo and upon mentioning the circumstances at Lady Hamilton’s table where Lord Nelson was one of the party his Lordship...

Mexican cabinet. Made of tortoiseshell, pen-engraved and wood. Possible Oaxaca or Puebla, 17th century.

The charming boy looks at you with a sweet smile, his container full of snuff to make you happy. He is carved of fruitwood, the lid lined with tortoise shell.

1990s Tortoise shell box.