Antique Gutta-Percha Jewelry Box, France, Circa 1880

Wonderful stone jewelry box with glass lid. France, late 19th century.

Exceptional Gutta-Percha inkwell with original glass inserts.  

Beautiful antique inkstand with two crystal inkwells. The base and the lids are made of gutta-percha, a molded resin, France, circa 1880. The lids fe...

Beautiful antique porcelain jewelry box. Signed " France Limoges" at the bottom. Limoges is a city in France that is known as the capital of ...

Beautiful picture frame from France circa 1880. The antique Gutta Percha is in a very good condition.

Beautiful victorian picture frame from France circa 1880. Made of the particular material Gutta-Percha.

An absolutely charming Victorian novelty jewellery box made from very heavy cast brass and I think that the dog himself is Bronze, with traces of the o...

Antique handmade Italian jewelry box in wood lined with silk velvet. It has beautiful scalloped sides which are smooth as silk to the touch. The box has a hinged lid which also is po...

Very nice Antique solid mahogany jewelry box, comes with a Blue Velvet interior . and a Mirror in the lid of the box . Ideal for your watches . Good condition .

A remarkable intricately designed, handcrafted silver box, circa 1880s. We were told that this box is sterling silver and that the makers mark "M" is that of "M. Mayer". Maurice MAYER was a very prestigious silversmith. Research shows that he was an "Orfèvre de l'Empereur", Napoleon Bonaparte, 1860-1870. The Minerva hallmarks are not visible, may have been rubbed off from use and cleaning. No documentation. This intricately carved box depicts the romantic poem of Le Roman de la Rose (The Romance of the Rose). Comes with the original lock and key. Le Roman de la Rose, begun by Guillaume de Lorris circa 1230 and completed, in a different style, circa 1270-1280, by Jean de Meun, builds on the concept of courtly love found in the poetry of the troubadours. The authors create a complex allegory of the romance between the Lover and the Rose. In the quest to pick the Rose (to achieve the conquest of love), the flower and its attendants represent the Lady and her sentiments while being wooed. In the first part of the poem, written by de Lorris, the Lover recounts his dream, ending with the winning of a kiss from the Lady. In the dream, the Lover discovers a walled garden and gains entrance thanks to a beautiful young woman. He meets Diversion and dancers who represent courtly values such as Beauty and Generosity. A tour of the garden brings him to a beautiful bed of roses by the Fountain of Love...

This superb Napoleon III Gutta Percha pen holder was handcrafted in France in the 1880s. The antique desk accessory is exquisitely crafted with different molded designs on each side and delicate ornamentation throughout. There is no known maker. This desk accessory is in overall good condition for a 150-year-old piece. The material is still shiny, with minor scratches and scuffs, but they do not significantly affect the overall appearance. Check the close-up. Measurements: 12.19 in wide (31 cm) x 3.94 in deep (10 cm) x 1.75 in high (4.5 cm). Note: Gutta-percha is a tree of the genus Palaquium in the family Sapotaceae. The name also refers to the rigid, naturally biologically inert, resilient, electrically nonconductive, thermoplastic latex derived from the tree. It is a polymer of isoprene that forms a rubber-like elastomer. The word "gutta-percha" comes from the plant's name in Malay: "Getah" translates as "latex." Percha or Perca is an older name for Sumatra. Long before Gutta-percha was introduced into the Western world, it was used in a less processed form by the natives of the Malaysian archipelago for making knife handles, walking sticks, and other purposes.  William Montgomerie, a Scottish medical officer in imperial service, introduced gutta-percha into practical use in the West. He was the first to appreciate the potential of this material in medicine, and he was awarded the gold medal by the Royal Society of Arts, London, in 1843. This material was scientifically classified in 1843 and was recognized as a valuable natural thermoplastic. During the second half of the 19th century, gutta-percha was used for many domestic and industrial purposes. Gutta-percha was particularly important for the manufacture of underwater telegraph cables...

Mid-19th century Gutta Percha Box with photo's and contemporary notes on Genealogy Fantastic mid-19th century gutta percha box with standing figures and a horse. Gutta Percha b...