Museum Object Number1961.1452 |
Box
Organic (ivory, horn, etc.)
Bequest of Henry Francis du Pont
China or England, China or United Kingdom, Asia or Europe
Possibly made by Chinese or southern Asian craftsmen for western trade; previously catalogued as probably made in England; more research needed. [AWagner 2021]
1770-1820
1. Label; Underside, on paper; "#1246/ tortoiseshell/ + inlaid pearl/ KA" in black ink
Tortoise shell (marine turtle); Mother-of-pearl; Brass; Wood
1 (H) , 3.9 (L) , 2.7 (W)
2.5 (H) , 10 (L) , 6.9 (W)
In decorative arts, the term "tortoise shell" is commonly used to describe scutes, or plates, of the shell from Hawksbill, Green, or Loggerhead marine turtles. Turtles once flourished in tropical waters in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, with the Tortugas, the Cayman Islands, and the Mosquito Coast all having large populations before they were fished to near extinction. Early objects made from tortoise shell were an ultra-luxury for elite consumers in Europe and Asia. As a raw trade material, “shell” could be 8 to 10 times more costly than elephant tusk ivory during the 1700s. By the early 1800s, tortoise shell was in wide use for merchant-class fashion accessories such as tea caddies, magnifying lens cases, fans, boxes and vanity sets as well as handles on many elegant tools, but especially for lady’s hair combs. Tortoise shell as an artistic material transitioned from rare and exotic to widely-desirable and internationally-produced, and then back to scarcity within two centuries. This box is made of tortoise shell applied on a wooden frame with the lid featuring a carved mother-of-pearl inlay of a bird amongst flowers and leaves.