This favorite item from my collections is a miniature portable writing set, c1770.
The tiny tortoiseshell box measures only 2½” by 1½” — so small it might have easily been carried in a lady’s reticule. It is lined in red velvet, and all the fittings are sterling silver.
Inside is everything needed to pen a quick note, perhaps when traveling or otherwise away from pen and ink.
As you can see in the image below, there is a tiny ink bottle and matching pounce bottle, with remnants of ink and pounce in each. A clever articulated sterling pen base expands from only 2″ to 4½”. There are three pen nibs that screw into the pen base, one sand scraper, and one funnel.
As all the parts are so small, it must be assumed that this writing set was meant for a woman.
