The most striking feautre of this round trinket box is the beautiful rendered portrait of a young gentleman, who meets our gaze directly.
He has a look that appears casual to the modern eye, but wasn't that uncommon for a twenty-something upper-class gentleman in the early 1800s. He wears an open shirt with a blue jacket, and his half-long hair falls carelessly around his forehead. If you look closely, you'll even notice a shadow of a beard, contributing to his informal appearance.
In the era before photography, the upper classes would commission portraits of themselves and their loved ones, and gifting these was a popular custom. This gentleman could therefore be someone's son, friend, or lover, but certain is that the receiver of the box would have treasured it as a precious memento.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Size: 92 mm in diameter, 24 mm high.
Weight: 95 grams.
Age: Early 19th Century, also known as the Georgian era, circa 1810.
Material: Tortoiseshell with a brass lining, and a miniature portrait on either paper or vellum.
Condition: In great antique condition with barely to no wear.