An Ottoman tortoiseshell and mother-of-pearl scribe's pencase, Turkey, circa 1800

of rectangular form on shallow bracket feet with a hinged bevelled lid, the sides and cover inlaid with tortoiseshell and mother-of-pearl, with panels of diamond, cube trellis and chequerboard patterning bordered by narrow bands of inlaid wood, the wood interior painted red with a rose motif to the inside lid, internal removable tray and compartments, brass catch and turned knob to front, foliate brass hinge to side