This extremely beautiful tortoiseshell box was made in the first quarter of the 20th century in Austria. The hinged lidded box has been set to the centre front of the lid with the Austrian imperial crest including the shield for Emperor Franz Josef, the second last emperor of Austria, who died in 1916. The internal hinge to the box is crafted from 14 karat yellow gold and is also marked 'Austria', leading us to believe that both the hinge and the crest to the lid are both solid 14 karat gold. The box is in remarkably good condition for a piece of its age with minor losses and wear to the finish of the tortoiseshell, commensurate with age and use. A really beautiful object to place on a desk, or beside a bed to hold precious items.
Marked - '585' for gold purity and 'AUSTRIA'
Measures - 14cm W x 8.5cm D x 3.5cm H