Gutta-Percha Dressing Table Box. 4 3/8” wide x 3 3/8” deep x 1 5/16” high. The decorative use of molded Gutta-Percha happened shortly after rubber trees and their use were discovered around 1845, mostly seen in ambrio-types and early photograph cases. This scarce box has a blind shoe-box lid, which is nicely decorated with a center cartouche showing two birds perched on their nest (with three eggs). They are surrounded by four panels of leaf and vine decoration. It is a lovely scene. What is remarkable is the excellent condition of this box. It is not warped, and has no cracks. The lid fits tightly to the box. All sides are flat and square. There is a slight (3/32”) dent to the top left edge of the lid, and an even smaller blemish, which could be a manufacturing flaw, on a bottom corner of the box. The bottom shows fine scratches from being moved on a piece of furniture conmensurate to this box’s age, circa 1850’s. I believe this is a scarce piece of Gutt-Percha, and it is just lovely. Price $360.00 (ref. B-729)