Charming Antique French Mother of Pearl Sailboat Inkwell & Pocket Watch Stand, Holder woven kilim Red coral was a gift

Red coral was a gift often given to young girls or young women

enlarged in our photos

The sudden temperature change caused fissures or cracks in the glass surface

Most do not

Charming Antique French Mother of Pearl Sailboat Inkwell & Pocket Watch Stand, Holder woven kilim Red coral was a giftThese are always fun, always popular and tougher to come by. This 19th century Grand Tour souvenir from France shows you why. A typical little desk stand, it's got covered original inkwell, but also the pocket watch hook up top of the mast, and the open "boat" is a cup into which one would put the contents of pockets at evening. Jewelry and pocket watch, a few coins. These old items were called "vide poche" (literally translates to empty pocket) in