Antique boxes made from tortoiseshell. Some real tortoiseshell, some faux. All 19th century.

84289963_1_x — Hinged box raised on paw feet. Antique. English. Faux tortoiseshell and silverplate. Maker not known. Image © 2002-2020 LiveAuctioneers and Echoes Antiques & Auction Gallery, Inc. Fair use license. via https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/84289963_english-faux-tortoise-shell-and-silver-plate

1909- — Tea caddy with a pagoda top above above a serpentine form with a lidded interior raised on wooden ball feet, the whole with bone and silver detailing. 19th c. English. Tortoiseshell, bone and silver. Maker not known. Image ©2020 C. Mariani Antiques, Restoration & Custom, San Francisco. Fair use license. via https://cmarianiantiques.com/item-1909/

KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA — Box with intricate boulle (marquetry) work with a serpentine front tortoiseshell having a serpentine front and inlaid work in brass and red tortoiseshell depicting stylized floral motifs. Lined with silk and velvet. ca. 1840. French. Maker not known. Image © Antique Boxes at the Sign of the Hygra, London. Fair use license. via http://hygra.com/uk/jb2/JB315/

Please note that these were all made in the 19th century when working with tortoiseshell was considered acceptable. Otherwise I would not use them.

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