Help with antique Malaysian vanity set

Hello, this beauty/vanity set was given to me from my grandmother before she passed and it was given to her during her time living in Malaysia around the 1950s - I'm not sure if it was new or passed down further when she received it. Anyone know if it is worth anything? Where I would go to sell this?

 

Hi Kristi, welcome.
It is absolutely beautiful!
It looks like it could have been new when your grandmother got it.
Is it tortoise shell? If so, you could have a problem if you want to sell it. If not, it could be celluloid or something like it (others on the forum will probably know) and selling is no problem. Try an auction house in your area.

 

The question is if it is plastic or tortoise shell. I think tortoise shell may be like ivory and can only be sold between consenting parties and not on/in a retail site.

Check the brush, mirror and comb for any marking on the handles or around the rims.

 

Sniped

 

or great minds....

 

Oh no!! How would I know if it was genuine tortoise shell? How sad if it is.

 

This brush is the only one with a crack in it. Can anyone tell anything more from this image? Thank you all so much for your help!

 

I'm greatly afraid that's the real deal. Hold the shoehorn up to the light; some of the "spots" may well be fuzzy around the edges. If they're not distinct, the retail value is essentially nil unless you're living somewhere other than the US/Canada/UK. Then again in the United Kingdom there are ways around it, but they require paperwork you probably don't have. Bear/AF/Davey might know more than I do.

 

Its such a lovely thing,is it really fair to put modern sensibilities on an item made so long ago ? Yes,it sucks that a sea turtle died to make it,but it was a different world then and I dont see how stigmatizing ivory,tortoise shell etc makes any sense now.Especially since it hasnt stopped poachers one iota since the rest of the world doesnt seem to care .Just my two cents.

 

The only people it's hurting are American antique lovers; it's not doing a darned thing about the poachers. The market for the new stuff is all in Asia.

 

Ethics debate aside... is this something I can sell anywhere? Or do I just keep it in storage and pass it down to the next generations? Thanks again.

 

Private sale may be your only option Im afraid.

 

Thank you for this info. I am living in Canada.

 

I don't think I know anyone personally/privately who would be interested haha.

 

You can only sell it here if it's provably pre 1947. That can mean something having a silver hallmark, say on a trim or it can be expert opinion. I suspect that set was new when gifted.

 

Doesn't look like there is any silver in this set.

 

Here in UK media there have been reports that China are actually shutting down a large number of the Ivory factories. If there are no buyers the market is destroyed.
I view this stuff in the same way as human skin lampshades, wouldn't touch it. Just my opinion some will agree and some won't.

 

Did you check all the rims for any markings?
The box appears to be original. Any markings on it?

I don't know the laws in Canada, but you should see what they allow and don't allow.
Selling to private parties might be an option. Finding that person may be difficult.

 

In The Netherlands we have an online marketplace, where anyone can sell, from attic stuff to quality art. Doesn't cost a thing, not even a percentage of your sales. You can set a price, let people bid, or even swap things. Maybe Canada has something like that.

 

see the oval box at the top left.... i have that one !
now i know where mine came from....!!...more or less..