French Necessaire Travel Etui

This is a sophisticated French necessaire travel etui, a portable writing set designed for convenience and elegance during travel. Its luxurious materials and comprehensive contents speak to the refined tastes of its original owner.

Description of the Etui:

• Outer Casing: The etui is housed in a compact, rectangular wood box that is entirely covered in shagreen. Shagreen, typically ray or shark skin, provides a unique textured, granular surface, often dyed in dark colors like green the gree seen here, adding a distinctive and luxurious tactile quality. The exterior of the box has a simple, clean design, allowing the shagreen to be the primary decorative element.
• Interior Lining: Upon opening, the inside of the lid reveals a plush lining of red velvet, which conveys a sense of luxury and protection for the contents. This velvet is accented with elegant silver trim. The base of the box is fitted with compartments sized to hold each writing implement securely.
• Contents: The etui is designed to hold a comprehensive set of writing tools for a traveler:
  • Two Ruby Glass Ink Bottles: The set includes two ink bottles crafted from ruby glass. Ruby glass is a vibrant, rich red color, often achieved by adding gold to the glass mixture.
  • Three Dip Pen Tips: There are three separate dip pen tips, which are the interchangeable nibs used for writing. These are made of metal and vary in fineness or style for different writing purposes.
  • Two Pen Extenders: To accommodate the pen tips, the etui contains two pen extenders (or holders). These are handles made of metal into which the dip pen tips are inserted, providing a comfortable grip for writing.
  • Pounce Pot: A pot for pounce is included with a spoon for transferring pounce from the pot.

How Old Is This?

Necessaire etuis, particularly those with a full complement of writing tools including a pounce pot, were popular throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.

• Shagreen: The use of shagreen as an outer covering was fashionable from the late 18th century through the mid-19th century, often associated with Regency, Empire, and early Victorian periods.
• Dip Pens & Pounce Pots: The inclusion of dip pen tips and a pounce pot (before blotting paper became ubiquitous in the latter half of the 19th century) also points to an earlier date within the 19th century.
• Ruby Glass: Ruby glass was produced across various periods, but its use here fits well within 19th-century luxury goods.
• Overall Style: The overall compact, yet luxurious and functional design, aligns well with travel accessories from the Empire to Mid-Victorian periods.

Given these characteristics, this French necessaire travel etui most likely dates to the first half to mid-19th century, approximately 1820s to 1860s. It’s a testament to the importance of correspondence and the demand for elegant portable writing solutions during that era.