Elegant Antique German Banded Agate Jewelry, Specimen or Snuff Box, Idar-Oberstein inkwell and very likely from one

and very likely from one of those boutiques

A charming small interior painting

The Prussian/Russian or Germanic 1700s portraits I have had all seem to be in a frame with a 1/16" space around the miniature

Completely veneered in coromandel

and no dents or damage to the gold clasp

Elegant Antique German Banded Agate Jewelry, Specimen or Snuff Box, Idar-Oberstein inkwell and very likely from oneOrigin 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