Small Green Shagreen Kit, Utensils And Stoppers In Solid Silver, Louis XVI Period.

A delightful little pocket set from the Louis XVI period, lined with green shagreen and trimmed inside with crimson velvet. The interior contains two cut-crystal bottles with solid silver screw caps, a small matching salt bottle, and a complete set of miniature solid silver utensils: file, tweezers, spatula, ear cleaner, scraper, and stylus, accompanied by a bone or ivory stand. The silverwork elements are hallmarked, although the marks have not been identified. The set is complete, a very rare occurrence for this type of pocket set. This delicate case demonstrates the refinement of 18th-century personal accessories, intended for travel or the toilet. Shagreen, a precious material obtained from the skin of skates or dogfish, was introduced into France in the mid-18th century by Jean-Claude Galluchat, master leather maker to King Louis XV. Its use quickly spread in the Parisian workshops of the Faubourg Saint-Antoine to cover small precious objects: snuff boxes, sewing kits, opera glasses or perfume bottles. Green-dyed shagreen, particularly prized under Louis XVI, gives this object a mineral and satiny texture, both luxurious and understated. Its preparation required meticulous work: the skin was salted, sanded, dyed and then polished with wax or varnish, revealing the subtle play of its natural silica beads. Period: 18th century, Louis XVI period Materials: green shagreen, crimson velvet, cut crystal, hallmarked solid silver, bone (or ivory) Dimensions: H. 7.2 cm × W. 5.5 cm × D. 5 cm Condition: very good and rare state of preservation, complete.