Tortoiseshell Box

[ddg47]

Love this box with tortoiseshell top with (mother-of-pearl?) and silver insets. Box measures 3 inches x 2 1/8 inches x 7/8 inch.
Scene of (pointed) houses encircles the box. Marks are from inside and almost impossible to photograph.
Any thoughts on this very mysterious box would be greatly appreciated.

[wolfgang]

Paris, crowned "G" for 1723, crowned "A" for charge february 1722-december 1726, for the maker some other friend of the forum
regards
Wolfgang

[wolfgang]

Forgot to say: congrats for such a rare and lovely piece to own
regards Wolfgang

[ddg47]

Hi Wolfgang --
Thank you very much, that is such exciting information -- I hope we can find out some more about this piece.
Thanks again,
Diane

[ddg47]

It has been a long time but I have found out a little more about my box -- the maker was Claude-Nicolas Grébeude, who worked in Paris from 1723-1751 and the disc on top appears to be the Order of Calatrava (the first military order founded in Castile, but the second to receive papal approval, the papal bull confirming the Order of Calatrava as a Militia was given by Pope Alexander III on September 26, 1164). The order emblem is a greek cross in gules with fleur-de-lis at its ends.

[ddg47]