Rare ITALIAN WRITING SET Letter Opener Carved Lava Stone Stamp Case 19th C READ

Description: ANTIQUE ITALIAN WRITING SET IN ORIGINAL CASE This listing features a 19th-century writing set acquired in Napoli (Naples), Italy, and popular with affluent tourists during their “Grand Tour” of Europe. This collection is in amazing condition and includes the original case and 5 hand-carved figural pieces. It comes from my grandmother’s estate and I believe it was likely a souvenir from her travels while in Italy (her favorite country). She collected all kinds of unusual mementos like this wherever she traveled. Her timelines dates this set no later than the mid-1920s, maybe a little earlier. The collection includes a brass dagger-shaped letter opener with "Napoli" (Naples) and other decorations engraved on one side of the blade. It measures 7 1/2 inches long (including the handle) by 1 inch wide. The blade is still attached to the handle but it is not a sturdy attachment (looks like it was repaired). The handle is a miniature bust of artist Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640), hand-carved from Italian Lava stone, with his name hand-lettered in gold ink. The Flemish painter spent 8 years in Italy studying the classical art that greatly influenced his style. There are 3 additional carved bust pieces. One is similar in size to the knife handle, but shaped like a seal or stamp. It is inscribed Giuseppe Maria “Garibaldi” (1807-1882), in honor of the great Italian military general. Garibaldi fought for Italian unity and almost single-handedly united northern and southern Italy. Another smaller, thinner bust which may have held the separate brass pen tip is inscribed “Giotto” di Bondone (1266-1337), honoring the famous artist and architect. Giotto is considered the ‘Father of the Rennaisance’. He introduced naturalism, spatial construction, and emotionality to Italian art. Unfortunately, his head is no longer present on the pen holder but his inscribed name remains. Last but not least is a similar handle inscribed, “Colombo” after Christopher Columbus (1451-1506), the famous Italian explorer and navigator. Columbus completed 4 voyages across the Atlantic Ocean opening the way for widespread European exploration and colonization of the Americas. The hard case measures approximately 8 3/4 inches long by 3 1/4 inches wide by 3/4 of an inch thick when closed. It is covered in beautifully embossed leather with covered hinges and a decorative brass push clasp. The clasp is still operational, closing with a solid click. The interior is completely lined in padded aqua-blue silky material and the base is also structured underneath to hold each piece securely in place. This interior base has detached from the case in places but can be easily reattached. The miniature workmanship of each piece is remarkable and the set strikes me as what would have been a very expensive souvenir for that era. Research found only one complete set available for purchase or available/sold in recent years. There is a handful of individual busts available at present, but a cased set like this one is rare. Please inspect all of the photos to see exactly what you will receive. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We offer different shipping options for your budget & peace of mind ~ choices are available before purchase. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Check out other uncommon items from three generations of our family as we downsize. There is still much to unpack and I list something new every day. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OUR LISTINGS FEATURE ONLY WELL-CARED-FOR ITEMS THAT BELONGED TO US OR OUR FAMILIES. OCCASIONALLY, WE LIST ITEMS FOR OUR FRIENDS IF THEY’RE REALLY INTERESTING. WE RESPOND QUICKLY TO MESSAGES. NO QUESTION IS TOO SMALL & IS ALWAYS WORTH ASKING. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SHIPPING IS WITHIN 3 BUSINESS DAYS UNLESS YOU CONTACT US TO REQUEST OTHERWISE. WE REFUND THE COMBINED SHIPPING DIFFERENCE (IF ANY) ON MULTIPLE ITEMS AFTER YOU PAY FOR THEM AT THE ‘PER ITEM’ SHIPPING PRICE IN THE LISTING. IF COMBINING ITEMS COULD DAMAGE THEM, WE WILL NOT COMBINE OR DISCOUNT THE INDIVIDUAL SHIPPING COSTS. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ YOU ARE ONLY CHARGED FOR THE ACTUAL PACKED BOX WEIGHT, SIZE, DESTINATION, & ADDITIONAL POSTAL SERVICES. WE DO NOT GUESSTIMATE OR PAD SHIPPING. WE DO NOT ADD IT TO THE ITEM PRICE & CALL IT ‘FREE SHIPPING’. WE USE RECYCLED, CLEAN PACKING MATERIAL & BOXES WHENEVER POSSIBLE. ANYTHING ELSE NECESSARY IS PROVIDED AT OUR EXPENSE. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BUYERS MUST PAY WITHIN 5 DAYS OR THE SALE IS CANCELLED & THE ITEM RELISTED. CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY IF THIS IS A PROBLEM SO WE CAN WORK OUT A SOLUTION TOGETHER. BUYERS WHO DEFAULT ON PAYMENT RECEIVE NEGATIVE FEEDBACK, ARE REPORTED TO EBAY & BLOCKED FROM VIEWING OR PURCHASING FUTURE ITEMS. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OUR FEEDBACK REFLECTS A DEDICATION TO ACCURATE DETAILS, EXPERT PACKING, QUICK SHIPPING & COMMUNICATION. IT IS OUR PLEASURE TO LEAVE YOU POSITIVE FEEDBACK FOR FAST PAYMENT & FAIR PLAY ~ WE LOVE TO SEE THE SAME IN RETURN. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WE SPEND A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF TIME PROVIDING YOU WITH AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE ABOUT EACH ITEM. WE ARE NOT PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS BUT OUR PHOTOS ARE WELL-LIT, DETAILED, AND NUMEROUS. PLEASE TAKE TIME TO EXAMINE EACH ONE CLOSELY & READ THE ENTIRE ITEM DESCRIPTION. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR REQUIRE ADDITIONAL PHOTOS, CONTACT US. WE WELCOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR CORRECTIONS ABOUT ANY OF OUR LISTINGS IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~WE DO NOT SELL ITEMS ON APPROVAL~ THE ONLY RETURNS WE ACCEPT ARE IF THE DESCRIPTIONS OR PHOTOS ARE GROSSLY INACCURATE. PLEASE READ WEARABLE ITEM INFORMATION CAREFULLY TO CONFIRM YOUR CURRENT MEASUREMENTS BEFORE PURCHASE. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ IF A RETURN IS NECESSARY, IT MUST BE PACKED WITH CARE USING THE SAME OR COMPARABLE MATERIALS AND SHIPPED WITH THE SAME OR ADDITIONAL POSTAGE AS YOU RECEIVED THE ITEM, AT YOUR EXPENSE. A REFUND IS ISSUED ONLY AFTER WE HAVE RECEIVED THE ITEM & CONFIRMED IT IS IN THE SAME CONDITION AS WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED. ANY CARELESS HANDLING, WEAR, DAMAGE, OR ALTERATION TO A RETURNED ITEM WILL CANCEL OR REDUCE THE REFUND TOTAL AT OUR DISCRETION. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WE ARE BLESSED WITH TOO MANY BEAUTIFUL THINGS TO ENJOY IN ONE LIFETIME & ARE PROUD TO SHARE THEM WITH NEW FRIENDS. WE ARE ALWAYS DELIGHTED WHEN YOU FOLLOW US & VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR PURCHASES. THANK YOU! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Price: 328.98 USD

Location: Marietta, Georgia

End Time: 2024-10-16T19:48:46.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD