Petit Antique German Banded Agate Jewelry, Specimen or Snuff Box, Idar-Oberstein Crossed torches The portrait is elegantly accomplished

The portrait is elegantly accomplished

in very good condition

but its flacon (bottle) must have been broken over the 250 years or so since it was created

Original fitted interior and linings but there is some spot staining in one or two areas

Some subtle dimples to the handles

Petit Antique German Banded Agate Jewelry, Specimen or Snuff Box, Idar-Oberstein Crossed torches The portrait is elegantly accomplishedOrigin of the box is German (Idar Oberstein), the area referred to as the valley of agate. These 19th century boxes, superbly crafted specimen stone set in ormolu framework and up on ball agate feet, were fabulously well received as Grand Tour souvenirs, still highly sought after today. While the gemstone industry got its start with local mined stone, stone from around the world went into these boxes by end of 1800s. A cluster of them makes a superb