Antique French Billet Doux, Silver and Mother of Pearl, Very Early 1800s Salt box It is beautifully presented and

It is beautifully presented and preserved

I would suspect this is a lady whose sense of style was to the northern European countries taste

carved in a simple but elegant shape

motion - movement as the wearer moves

Nearly 5" in length

Antique French Billet Doux, Silver and Mother of Pearl, Very Early 1800s Salt box It is beautifully presented andThese are rare! What some think might be a cigar case is, instead, a 1700s "billet doux", or directly translated, "sweet note". The case is that into which love notes, invitations to clandestine trysts and such words of love would be sent by courier to one's beloved. Marriage being what it was among elites and titled persons in Marie Antoinette's era and earlier, one did not always consort with only one's spouse. A love note would be written, rolled