Charming c. 1900 Hand-engraved Brass Vesta or Card Case with Ballerina china doll legs simple and direct

simple and direct

though has since been disabled--it lies flush over the face of the box or flips up to sit flat on top

he’s been beaten up a bit

both are so good

a storefront gallery on Elizabeth Street in NYC

Charming c. 1900 Hand-engraved Brass Vesta or Card Case with Ballerina china doll legs simple and directI really love the ballerina hand engraved on this case, executed with wonderful attention to detail from those eyes cast off to one side, to those long fingers and pointed toes, to all of those great ruffles in between! C. 1900 I believe, and I take it for a vesta, for matches, but the knowledgable dealer I purchased it from classified it as a card case. In an event, I think quite a charmer, just the right size to carry around in one's pocket with