Object Description
Antique Vanity Box / Dressing Box with its original leather carry case.
The silver vanity box itself is veneered in exotic coromandel with brass edging and double stringing on the front and top. Opening the box first reveals seventeen glass jars with beautifully engraved sterling silver lids dated 1854 by London silversmiths James Vickery.
Folding down the front of the silver dressing box allows the wings of the box to be opened out, revealing a padded tool pad complete with mother of pearl handled tools including a shoehorn, penknife, thread hook, scissors, tweezers, file, needle and pricker. Underneath this tool pad is a hidden drawer that is opened by pressing retailers plaque on the back edge of the box. The retailer’s plaque reads:
Mappin & Webb. Sheffield. 158 to 162 Oxford Street & Mansion House Buildings. London. Accessing the special secret drawers.
With the wings of the vanity box out removing the rectangle jars at the back of each wing will allow the hidden drawers in each side to be opened, by pressing on the back edge of each jars velvet compartment base.
The underside of the lid houses a removable leather-backed free standing mirror with gold tooling. Behind the mirror is a hidden letter compartment.
This beautiful antique vanity box comes with a fully working lock and tasselled key.