Vintage Charles X Mother-of-pearl Ballroom Notebook – 1824 Portable Calendar – Original Mechanical Pencil

Charles X-era mother-of-pearl ballroom dance card Portable calendar from 1824 – Original mechanical pencil – Restoration period

Rare and elegant Charles X-era ball notebook, reliably dated thanks to its portable calendar printed for the year 1824.

Intended for the elegant ladies who frequented the salons and balls of the Restoration period, this precious objet d’art is a remarkable testament to the refinement of French decorative arts in the first quarter of the 19th century.

The notebook is crafted from natural mother-of-pearl, finely engraved with foliage motifs and framed by a rich gilded bronze or brass mount embossed with floral designs. The front cover is adorned with the inscription “Souvenir,” while the back features an elegant blue-enameled medallion.  Its edge is finished in the style of an antique book binding. It retains its original mechanical pencil, housed in a side compartment that also serves as a closure mechanism. 

The interior reveals a particularly ingenious design. It includes a removable notebook with silk-covered covers; on the last page is an original portable calendar for the year 1824. The design also includes two compartments built into the endpapers, which are likewise lined with silk.

Thanks to the quality of its materials, the finesse of its craftsmanship, and its excellent state of preservation, this notebook is a remarkable collector’s item representative of luxury during the Restoration.

Historical Context:
The dance card emerged in the early 19th century and quickly became an indispensable accessory at high-society receptions. Young women used them to note the names of the gentlemen with whom they had reserved each dance of the evening. Beyond its practical use, it was also a fashion accessory and a precious keepsake preserved after the festivities. The finest examples were crafted by the best Parisian artisans, particularly for the boutiques of the Palais-Royal. Made of mother-of-pearl, ivory, tortoiseshell, silver, or gilded bronze, they were often given as gifts or New Year’s presents.

This particular example belongs to the highly refined tradition characteristic of the Charles X period and is of great interest because it has retained its original calendar dated 1824, allowing for a particularly precise dating.

Characteristics:

• Type: Ball notebook
• Period: Charles X – Restoration
• Date: 1824
• Origin: France
• Materials: Engraved mother-of-pearl, gilded brass, silk, printed paper
• Decoration: Floral scrolls and the inscription “Souvenir”
• Special features: original portable calendar from 1824, original mechanical pencil, notebook with removable pages, and two interior compartments lined with silk
• Dimensions: H: 9 cm, W: 6 cm
• Weight: 75 grams

Condition:

• In very good overall condition for an object over two centuries old.
• The notebook retains its original 1824 calendar, mechanical pencil, notepad, and two interior compartments lined with silk.
• The mother-of-pearl is well-preserved and has a beautiful luster. The metal frame has a slight patina consistent with its age.
• The interior silk linings show some signs of normal wear, typical for an object of this era. The pages show some foxing without detracting from the quality of the presentation.

The set remains particularly complete and attractive.
Highlights of this example:

• Certain dating thanks to the printed 1824 calendar.
• Elegant, high-quality engraved mother-of-pearl binding.
• Richly embossed gilded bronze or brass mount.
• Original lead holder preserved.
• Notebook pages and interior compartments still present.
• In excellent overall condition.
• An object emblematic of luxury and the art of living during the Restoration.
• A sought-after piece among collectors of 19th-century objets d’art and fashion accessories.

Related collections: Objets d’art – Ball notebooks – Charles X – Restoration – Palais-Royal – Mother-of-pearl – Souvenir – Ball accessories – Portable calendar – Antique mechanical pencil – Decorative arts – 19th century – Curiosities – Romantic collection – French antiques.