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, writing and vanity tools. Expanded within the Lemonwood casket with cut steel pique decoration up top, the chest is 9 5/8" x 6 3/4" and stands 3 1/2" tall, closed. Rare to find, this one includes vanity jars, an inkwell, and 2 scent bottles with 18k gold vermeil on silver and mother of pearl caps on 2 vanity jars and an inkwell. The 2 perfume bottles still have their tiny stoppers within, a pair of mother of pearl scissors, and missing a smaller set which was likely steel. Writer's tools include the pen, eraser tool/blade, a folding maesuring tool, alongside the inkwell. The folding knife, bodkin, Stiletto, w tooth cleaning items in place, the ear wax and tweezer tool gone missing, though. The crochet tambour remains, and the pristine thimble - several pieces with the 18k gold Palais Royal medallions and shields. I find no damage to any of the items - 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. Interior further fitted with compartments for jewelry, valuables, and etc. (shown in our photos - entirely complete and in very fine condition).
Very good to excellent condition throughout, age and type considered. As mentioned, the implements and jars, bottles and writing tools are quite excellent. The cut steel pique work decorating the box's top is magnificent, and I see nothing to report by way of flaw to the beautiful old burl wood chest. Working lock, original key. One small scissors and a tweezer/ear wax spoon and one more small item missing from the fitted lift out tray. The interior lid is in beautiful condition, as are the fitted compartments beneath the lift-out tray of tools. A stationery storage folder in lid. There would once have also been a vanity mirror which could be removed. The mirror is no longer there - is the easiest part to replace, just cut a new mirror and give it a liner of crimson or claret red - silk will do. 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.
