Museum quality, stunning and complete sewing chest, vanity trousse d' voyage or Necessaire (everything you need) dating c.1810-20, filled to overflowing with each of the original sewing and vanity tools. Expanded within the Lemonwood casket with cut steel pique decoration up top, the chest is 9 1/8" x 6 7/8" and stands 3 3/8" tall, closed. Rare to find, not a single implement is missing from original, all spools remain, a large navette scent bottle with 18k gold cap still has its tiny stopper within, both pairs of mother of pearl scissors, even the folding knife, bodkin, ear wax and tooth pick tool and crochet tambour remain, added to by the large clamp with pin/needle cushion. I find no damage to any of the items but a single nip to one snowflake silk winder, upper right slot in view. Both pairs of pearl scissors are original, have no breaks, damage - so rare. All retain their original 18k gold and kiln-fired enamel medallion, signature of Palais Royal quality and origin - the boutiques lining the garden promenade of the old palace of Cardinal Richelieu, Paris. From those boutiques, the very finest of all goods were available to the Nobles and Royals who frequented the cultural center there, 1700s onward. It is from that center a young King Louis XIV was raised and guided by Cardinal Richelieu, groomed to become The Sun King. Such history! I digress. The coffret or chest closes smoothly, no warp, and it has the old original lock and a working key. However, I have turned it in the lock and now can't unlock it - Rick will be able to, just a warning for next owner to be a bit careful with the old lock, which is finicky as they sometimes are. Lift out tray and the original padded silk cover remain. The mirror in the chest now is a replacement, and lacks the typical chenille trim which would have surrounded the old original. It is permanently mounted and does not remove as the original likely did.
Very good to excellent condition throughout, age and type considered. As mentioned, the implements and flask, clamp and knife are quite excellent. One snowflake silk winder has a chip to one lobe (upper right in its fitting). The cut steel pique work decorating the box's top is magnificent, and all remain as does the original handle. The wood chest is opulent, elegant, and I see just the 2 small veneer restorations along one end, highlighted and mentioned directly on the photos for your review. Such tiny flaws in a magnificent set - you'd marvel over this one in museum collections. RARELY does one this fine come to market. Don't miss it. I'll be listing several of mine these next weeks - decades of curated collections, disbursing now.
