A large gold and mother-of-pearl souvenir, 1770

A large gold and mother-of-pearl souvenir, 1770

of slightly tapering rectangular form, the front centred with chased gold urn engraved with the initial M, on a blond lock of hair and a mother-of-pearl ground, in a chased ribbon and rose frame, the ground inlaid in bands of mother-of-pearl alternating with zig-zag gold bands, the reverse similarly decorated, both sides of the lid applied with a gold band with polished letters reading: SOUVENIR, below openwork scroll border, diamond pushpiece, the interior fitted with a gold pencil holder, apparently unmarked

8.7 cm, 3⅜in. high