An exceptionally charming and unusual late 19th or early 20th-century antique French souvenir desk set, beautifully styled as a stylized boat. This elegant piece is extensively clad in iridescent mother of pearl and abalone shell panels, catching the light with a stunning array of shimmering, rainbow-like colors.
A Tale of Two French Resorts This piece carries a wonderful layer of travel history, making it a stellar example of a Belle Époque or Grand Tour souvenir:
The Boat Stand: Features an elegant, hand-engraved cursive inscription reading "Biarritz" on the bow's tiling, linking it to the famous luxury seaside resort town on France's Atlantic coast.
The Original Quill / Dip Pen: Features a faint, beautifully elegant cursive engraving on the mother of pearl handle that reads "St Laurent du Var"—a picturesque coastal commune on the French Riviera (Côte d'Azur). It was incredibly common for wealthy turn-of-the-century travelers to pair treasures collected from different stops along their European journeys!
Features & Specifications
Form: Stylized boat-form desk stand / pen rest.
Materials: Premium mother of pearl and abalone shell inlay panels; decorative brass/metal framework; faceted glass; velvet liner.
Inscriptions: "Biarritz" on the front deck; "St Laurent du Var" on the quill handle.
Included Components:
Original square-bodied glass inkwell with a brass collar and faceted, hinged glass lid.
Original dip pen featuring a gorgeous mother of pearl handle intricately carved into a stylized feather/quill shape, complete with its metallic nib receiver.
Central square, velvet-lined storage compartment (designed to hold the inkwell snugly or serve as a small trinket holder).
Built-in decorative wirework railings that double as pen rests.
Condition Report Good Antique Condition Overall
Inlay & Glass: The extensive mother of pearl and abalone shell tiling has been preserved beautifully, laying flat with excellent iridescence and minimal wear. The original glass inkwell and its hinged cover are intact and present without major chips or cracks.
Quill Pen: The mother of pearl handle is intact with no major damage to the fragile feather-carved edges, it is securely fitted to the metal collar, and the "St Laurent" script remains legible under close inspection/light.
Metalwork: The decorative brass wire framework, railings, and inkwell collar display a beautiful, natural age-related patina, showing tarnishing, minor oxidation, and surface corrosion consistent with a genuine antique of this era.
Interior: The central velvet-lined compartment shows typical fading and wear