Dance card

Dance card in mother-of-pearl with thin ivory notebook tablets inside, constructed in the shape of a miniature folding fan. The front guard plate features an iridescent mother-of-pearl base overlaid with an etched gold-gilded metal foliate cartouche. An attached silk and metallic thread tassel string is secured around the bottom pivot of the piece. This cord allowed a lady to hold or attach the compact accessory to her wrist or finger during a dance. 

The interior opens to reveal five thin writing leaves made of ivory or bone, along with a translucent frosted backing leaf. These smooth tablets were used to write down the names of dance partners using a small pencil. The markings could later be wiped off, making the notebook reusable for future social events.