These items have been sold, and the description, image and price ($US) are for reference purposes only.

In the early 19th century etiquette dictated that upper class ladies and gentlemen should carry a visiting card, also known as a calling card, being a small paper card, about the size of present day business cards, printed with the individual's details, and often bearing an artistic design.

In 19th century England, the caller or the footmen accompanying the caller (if he or she was very important) would deliver the visiting cards to the servants of their prospective hosts, introducing the arrival of the card bearer.

Card cases solely for the purpose of holding visiting cards were introduced at this time and etiquette dictated that ladies should always carry their cards in a card case, although it was acceptable for a gentleman to carry his cards in the breast pocket of his jacket.

Reflecting the fact that card cases were mainly used by ladies, the designs were feminine in more... nature.

The early card cases were made of silver and leather with fine gilt tooling. The earliest French cases, c1760, were made of gold, silver and enamel, sometimes with ivory panels or beadwork. Eventually they were made in a variety of materials, including silver, gold, ivory, enamel, mother of pearl and tortoiseshell.

With the advent of popular tourism in the 19th century, card cases were made to depict places of interest and examples include silver castle-top cases, Scottish Mauchline ware and tartan ware and, from Ireland, Killarney ware.

Among silver card cases, castle-tops are the most valuable, with versions of Windsor, Warwick, Kenilworth and Abbotsford popular. Rare examples fetch much higher prices.

The most prolific makers of silver card cases were Nathaniel Mills, Yapp & Woodward and Taylor & Perry.

Most card cases had a lid that was hinged to one side, but there were a variety of other opening methods.

The use of visiting cards declined at the end of the 19th century, reducing demand for and consequently the production of card cases. less...

Two card cases in mother-of-pearl, and tortoiseshell, late…
Mother-of-Pearl and Tortoiseshell Card Cases with Sterling Silver Embellishment

Two card cases in mother-of-pearl, and tortoiseshell, late 19th/early 20th century, the tile patterned case inlaid with abalone shell, the tortoiseshell case with a pierced sterling silver embellishment, each 3.94 in. x 2.95 in. (approx)

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Victorian tortoiseshell card case, of tapering rectangular form,…
Victorian tortoiseshell card case with white metal decoration, 5cm

Victorian tortoiseshell card case, of tapering rectangular form, set with white metal button and hinged cover, decorated with white metal reserve, a/f (chip to interior), 1.97 in. x 1.77 in. x 0.59 in. published: antique boxes: inside and out by Genevieve…

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A Victorian tortoiseshell card case, panelled, with ivory trim.…
Victorian Tortoiseshell Card Case with Ivory Trim: Panelled Design

A Victorian tortoiseshell card case, panelled, with ivory trim. 4.13 in. x 2.95 in.

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Regency tortoise shell and ivory card case, of rectangular form,…
Regency Tortoise Shell and Ivory Card Case with Silver Panel

Regency tortoise shell and ivory card case, of rectangular form, the push button clasp releasing a hinged cover decorated with ivory borders and upper silver panel, 3.94 in. x 2.95 in. note: this lot can only be shipped within Australia

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19th century tortoiseshell & mother of pearl card case,…
Tortoiseshell & Mother of Pearl Card Case with Idyllic Scene

19th century tortoiseshell & mother of pearl card case, tortoiseshell inlaid with mother of pearl flowers and leaves, central mother of pearl panel with incised idyllic lake scene

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19th century tortoiseshell & mother of pearl card case, inset…
Antique Tortoiseshell & Mother of Pearl Card Case

19th century tortoiseshell & mother of pearl card case, inset silver lozenge and clasp, silk moire lined interior, 3.74 in. long

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Continental silver and tortoiseshell card case, marked 800, of…
Continental Silver & Tortoiseshell Card Case with Sapphire Thumb Piece

Continental silver and tortoiseshell card case, marked 800, of shaped rectangular form, with cabochon sapphire thumb piece, with gilt interior, 3.15 in. x 2.36 in.

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Victorian tortoiseshell calling card case, the lid inlaid with…
Victorian Tortoiseshell Card Case with Silver Inlay

Victorian tortoiseshell calling card case, the lid inlaid with a silver shield

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An antique calling card case, tortoiseshell and ivory inlaid…
Antique Tortoiseshell Calling Card Case with Silver Inlay

An antique calling card case, tortoiseshell and ivory inlaid with sterling silver, 19th century, 4.13 in. x 2.95 in.

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Victorian tortoise shell calling card case fitted interior 11 x…
Victorian Tortoise Shell Card Case with Fitted Interior

Victorian tortoise shell calling card case fitted interior 4.33 in. x 2.95 in.

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Victorian tortoiseshell card case width 7.5 cm, height 10 cm
Victorian Tortoiseshell Card Case - 10cm Height

Victorian tortoiseshell card case width 2.95 in., height 3.94 in.

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Gold and tortoiseshell card case 18ct gold mounts and chain.…
Gold and Tortoiseshell Card Case with Chain

Gold and tortoiseshell card case 18ct gold mounts and chain. White enamel highlights.

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An antique tortoiseshell card case, the case has mother of…
Antique Tortoiseshell Card Case with Mother of Pearl Inlay

An antique tortoiseshell card case, the case has mother of pearl inlay, length 4.13 in., width 3.15 in.

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An antique tortoise shell card case and a Georgian…
Tortoiseshell Card Case and Georgian Box with Inlay

An antique tortoise shell card case and a Georgian tortoiseshell box with mother of pearl inlay, length 4.13 in., width 3.15 in., and smaller

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An antique tortoiseshell card case, 19th century, 10.5 x 8 cm
19th Century Tortoiseshell Card Case, Antique

An antique tortoiseshell card case, 19th century, 4.13 in. x 3.15 in.

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Superb ladies 19th century card case, in silver, mother of…
Elegant 19th Century Silver Card Case with Mother of Pearl

Superb ladies 19th century card case, in silver, mother of pearl and tortoise shell. The interior fited with card segments and ivory lining

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Edwardian tortoiseshell shell card case, decorated with mother…
Inlaid Silver Tortoiseshell Card Case with Mother of Pearl

Edwardian tortoiseshell shell card case, decorated with mother of pearl and inlaid silver, with sectional interior

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A mother-of-pearl and tortoiseshell card case, 19th century,…
Mother-of-Pearl and Tortoiseshell Card Case

A mother-of-pearl and tortoiseshell card case, 19th century, the card case with finely engraved mother- of-pearl borders, an inlaid engraved silver owl and crescent moon to the lid and opening to reveal a blue moire silk lined interior with an ultramarine

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19th century tortoise shell and mother of pearl card case, of…
Floral Decorated Card Case with Tortoise Shell and Mother-of-Pearl

19th century tortoise shell and mother of pearl card case, of rectangular form, decorated with a central spray of flowers to each side, a/f, height 3.94 in.

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Victorian decorated tortoiseshell card case decorated in inset…
Victorian Mother of Pearl Blossom Card Case

Victorian decorated tortoiseshell card case decorated in inset mother of pearl blossoms to front and back,

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Three 19th century calling card cases, comprising two…
19th Century Calling Card Cases with Inlaid Designs

Three 19th century calling card cases, comprising two tortoiseshell and mother-of-pearl inlaid cases and an Anglo Indian sadeli mosaic inlaid card case, 4.33 in. high, 3.15 in. wide

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Victorian tortoiseshell card case, has padding on the inside…
Victorian Tortoiseshell Card Case with Locking Mechanism

Victorian tortoiseshell card case, has padding on the inside and has a locking mechanism, height 3.94 in., width 2.56 in.

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An antique calling card case, tortoiseshell and mother of pearl…
Antique Tortoiseshell Calling Card Case with Mother of Pearl Trim

An antique calling card case, tortoiseshell and mother of pearl with ivory trim and silk lining, 19th century, 3.94 in. high

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Victorian inlaid silver tortoiseshell card case monogrammed to…
Victorian Silver Inlaid Tortoiseshell Card Case

Victorian inlaid silver tortoiseshell card case monogrammed to lid, lined interior, height 4.33 in.

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Rare and exceptional 19th century French plique-a'-jour…
French Plique-a-Jour Enamel Sterling Silver Card Case

Rare and exceptional 19th century French plique-a'-jour sterling silver enamelled tortoise shell card case, silver gilt interior, pierced tortoise shell and enamelled lid with beautifully enamelled reverse

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Victorian tortoiseshell calling card case with scroll…
Victorian Tortoiseshell Calling Card Case with Scroll Decoration

Victorian tortoiseshell calling card case with scroll decoration to each side.

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A Victorian tortoise shell, mother of pearl & paua shell…
Victorian Shell Calling Card Case with Push Clasp

A Victorian tortoise shell, mother of pearl & paua shell calling card case, curved & diamond panels with push clasp, one piece of mother of pearl missing, 3.94 in. x 3.15 in. x 0.39 in.

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A tortoise card case with sterling silver inlay plaque, blue…
Sterling Silver Inlaid Tortoise Card Case

A tortoise card case with sterling silver inlay plaque, blue silk interior with push clasp, 4.72 in. x 3.94 in. x 0.59 in.

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A Victorian tortoise shell & inlay mother of pearl card case,…
Victorian Mother of Pearl Card Case with Floral Inlay

A Victorian tortoise shell & inlay mother of pearl card case, with floral pattern & ivory detail, break & missing part to clasp, 3.54 in. x 2.76 in. x 0.59 in.

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Two Victorian card cases one in mother of pearl, the other…
Victorian Card Cases with Losses

Two Victorian card cases one in mother of pearl, the other tortoiseshell and mother of pearl. Both with losses

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A collection of three 19th century tortoiseshell cases,…
19th Century Tortoiseshell Cases Collection

A collection of three 19th century tortoiseshell cases, including a rectangular cardcase with tortoise shell veneer and pewter stringing, the interior lined with velvet. A lady's calling card case, tortoiseshell veneers, peweter stringing, hinged top and a

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Two Victorian card cases, tortoiseshell, mother of pearl and…
Victorian Card Cases with Tortoiseshell and Mother of Pearl Inlay

Two Victorian card cases, tortoiseshell, mother of pearl and silver, circa 1880, 4.13 in. high

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A late 19th century tortoiseshell card case inlaid with silver,…
Tortoiseshell Card Case with Stork Inlay

A late 19th century tortoiseshell card case inlaid with silver, the front with a scene of a stork amongst reeds, old repairs, push-button release revealing watered silk concertina interior.

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Two Victorian pique tortoiseshell cases, 19th century, the…
Victorian Pique Tortoiseshell Notebook and Card Cases

Two Victorian pique tortoiseshell cases, 19th century, the first being a notebook case with naturalistic motifs to the front cover, the interior containing two cloth compartments and a central pencil sleeve, the second being a card case with repeating dot

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A mother of pearl inlaid tortoiseshell card case 19th century…
Mother of Pearl Inlaid Tortoiseshell Card Case, 19th Century

A mother of pearl inlaid tortoiseshell card case 19th century 3.94 in. high, 3.15 in. wide, 0.59 in. deep

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Small Victorian tortoiseshell calling card case, decorative…
Victorian Tortoiseshell Card Case with Scale Panels

Small Victorian tortoiseshell calling card case, decorative scale panels (slight faults)

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Victorian tortoiseshell calling card case, panels finely carved…
Victorian carved tortoiseshell card case with stately homes

Victorian tortoiseshell calling card case, panels finely carved with stately homes (some faults)

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An antique card case, tortoiseshell and ivory with mother of…
19th Century English Tortoiseshell Card Case with Inlay

An antique card case, tortoiseshell and ivory with mother of pearl inlay, English, 19th century, 3.74 in. high

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Seven Victorian tortoiseshell card cases, late 19th century,…
Victorian Tortoiseshell Card Cases with Mother of Pearl Inlay

Seven Victorian tortoiseshell card cases, late 19th century, most inlaid with mother of pearl, 3.94 in. x 3.15 in. approximately.

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Tortoise shell card case embossed decoration
Embossed Tortoise Shell Card Case

Tortoise shell card case embossed decoration

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A Victorian tortoiseshell and silver card case, the front…
Victorian Tortoiseshell and Silver Card Case

A Victorian tortoiseshell and silver card case, the front decorated with a silver frame with blank cartouche to the centre, the interior with traditional compartments for visiting cards. 3.15 in. x 3.94 in.

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Victorian tortoiseshell calling card case with inlaid silver…
Victorian Silver Inlaid Tortoiseshell Card Case

Victorian tortoiseshell calling card case with inlaid silver panel

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A 19th century decorative tortoiseshell and mother-of-pearl…
Tortoiseshell and Mother-of-Pearl Card Case

A 19th century decorative tortoiseshell and mother-of-pearl card case, ribbed panel and banded form, floral engraved panels. 4.09 in. x 3.07 in. Provenance: The Flower Family Collection.

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A 19th century tortoiseshell ornately inlaid card case, both…
Ornate Tortoiseshell Inlaid Card Case with Abalone Inlays

A 19th century tortoiseshell ornately inlaid card case, both sides with fine abalone and mother-of-pearl inlays. 4.21 in. x 3.23 in. Provenance: The Flower Family Collection.

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A 19th century tortoiseshell visiting card case, the hinged lid…
19th Century Tortoiseshell Visiting Card Case with Ivory Edges

A 19th century tortoiseshell visiting card case, the hinged lid opening to reveal ivory clashed edges. 4.13 in. x 2.95 in.

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A Victorian tortoiseshell card case, with hinged lid and fine…
Victorian Tortoiseshell Card Case with Ivory Detail

A Victorian tortoiseshell card case, with hinged lid and fine ivory clashed detail at the opening. 3.94 in. x 2.95 in.

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A Victorian tortoiseshell inlaid card case, the silver inlay…
Victorian Tortoiseshell Inlaid Silver Card Case with Silk Interior

A Victorian tortoiseshell inlaid card case, the silver inlay with rectangular vacant cartouche and floral and leaf framing, the watered silk and sectional interior with ivory trim. 4.25 in. x 3.07 in.

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19th century tortoise shell and mother of pearl inlaid floral…
Floral Inlaid Card Case with Tortoise Shell & Mother-of-Pearl

19th century tortoise shell and mother of pearl inlaid floral decorated card case

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Victorian tortoiseshell calling card case having rounded edges,…
Victorian Tortoiseshell Calling Card Case with Button Clasp

Victorian tortoiseshell calling card case having rounded edges, a velvet lined interior & a working button clasp. Condition: good to fair, some losses, loose hinge, 3.43 in. x 2.01 in. x 0.39 in.

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Victorian tortoiseshell calling card case having rounded edges,…
Victorian Tortoiseshell Calling Card Case with Velvet Lining

Victorian tortoiseshell calling card case having rounded edges, a velvet lined interior & a working button clasp. Condition: good to fair, some losses, loose hinge, 4.13 in. x 3.15 in. x 0.47 in.

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Victorian tortoiseshell & mother of pearl calling card case of…
Victorian Mother of Pearl Card Case with Floral Inlay

Victorian tortoiseshell & mother of pearl calling card case of rectangular shape, having floral inlaid mother of pearl detail, with a velvet lined interior & a working button clasp. Condition: good to fair, loss to one panel, loose hinge, 9.5 x 5.7 x 1.2 c

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Victorian tortoise shell calling card case having a panel…
Victorian St. Mark's Basilica Calling Card Case

Victorian tortoise shell calling card case having a panel depicting St Mark's Basilica from Piazza San Marco, with a purple silk lined interior.

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Tortoise shell card case (slight A/F)
Tortoise Shell Card Holder

Tortoise shell card case (slight A/F)

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Early tortoiseshell and silver card case. Engraved silver…
Tortoiseshell and Silver Card Case

Early tortoiseshell and silver card case. Engraved silver central cartouche. Height 3.94 in.

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Victorian tortoise shell calling card case oblong with mother…
Victorian Tortoise Shell Card Case with Inlaid Mother-of-Pearl

Victorian tortoise shell calling card case oblong with mother of pearl floral inlay, top hinged opening

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Tortoiseshell & mother of pearl calling card case having…
Tortoiseshell and Mother of Pearl Calling Card Case

Tortoiseshell & mother of pearl calling card case having rounded edges, a velvet lined interior, with an inlaid unmarked silver cartouche, & a working button clasp. Condition, good to fair, minor losses to the shell. Dimensions, 3.94 in. x 2.99 in. x 0.47…

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Tortoiseshell card case 9.7 cm x 6.9 cm
Tortoiseshell Card Case - Compact and Stylish Design

Tortoiseshell card case 3.82 in. x 2.72 in.

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A tortoise shell card case c.1900.
1900 Tortoise Shell Card Case

A tortoise shell card case c.1900.

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Two Victorian tortoiseshell covered items; a card case with…
Victorian Tortoiseshell Card Case and Oval Purse

Two Victorian tortoiseshell covered items; a card case with ivory trim and push-button release, minor losses, together with an oval small purse, the steel frame with sectional chamois interior, the top tortoiseshell panel with gilt Greek key inlaid bands.

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Two silver mounted tortoise shell and mother-of-pearl card…
Silver and Shell Card Cases with Enamel Cover

Two silver mounted tortoise shell and mother-of-pearl card cases, 19th/20th century, together with a silver and enamel cover the largest box 3.15 in. wide

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Victorian tortoise shell playing card case
Victorian Tortoise Card Case

Victorian tortoise shell playing card case

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Two Victorian tortoiseshell card cases 19th century each with…
Victorian Tortoiseshell Card Cases with Silver Inlay

Two Victorian tortoiseshell card cases 19th century each with silver inlay and one with mother of pearl, 4.33 in. high( each)

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A Victorian mother of pearl and tortoiseshell card case, circa…
Victorian Mother of Pearl Card Case

A Victorian mother of pearl and tortoiseshell card case, circa 1860s. The rectangular shaped bone case with a button release hinged top decorated with alternating panels of tortoiseshell and mother of pearl lightly engraved with patterns and scrolling rose

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Victorian tortoiseshell card case with mother of pearl and…
Victorian Inlaid Tortoiseshell Card Case

Victorian tortoiseshell card case with mother of pearl and abalone inlay

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A Victorian tortoiseshell covered card case, the hinged lid…
Victorian Tortoiseshell Card Case with Ivory Fittings

A Victorian tortoiseshell covered card case, the hinged lid with push-button release revealing ivory fittings, rectangular form, good condition and polish. 2.83 in. x 0.39 in. x 4.09 in.

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A Victorian ladies visiting card case in tortoiseshell with…
Victorian Tortoiseshell Visiting Card Case

A Victorian ladies visiting card case in tortoiseshell with ivory band and silver catch. Height 4.13 in. Width 3.15 in.

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A Victorian ladies visiting card case in tortoiseshell with…
Victorian Tortoiseshell Floral Card Case

A Victorian ladies visiting card case in tortoiseshell with inlaid mother of pearl shell floral panels. Pewter stringing. Height 4.33 in. Width 3.15 in.

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