Belle Epoque Ormolu-mounted, Ebonized Dressing Case

c. 1900

An ormolu-mounted ebonized kingwood dressing case (French, c. 1900) by Alphonse Giroux et Cie in Paris. The dressing case is in the form of a Renaissance casket with ebonized parquetry exterior accented with ormolu strapwork inset with semi-precious stones. The hinged lid features a mirror on the underside within a kingwood parquetry frame and ormolu mounts opening to reveal a fitted interior containing glass cosmetic jars of various sizes. Each jar has a rococo style silver-gilt repousee cover surrounding a cartouche decorated with a crown, the lower section with a fall front revealing two kingwood parquetry drawers, each with an elaborate flush brass handle, and the top drawer with a fitted removable red velvet compartment containing silver-gilt manicure items, some with tortoise shell handles. The bottom drawer, having a fitted interior covered in pink silk moire and containing ivory brushes, each surrounding an engraved black crown together with a tortoise shell comb and shoe horn.

France

kingwood

silver-gilt

semi-precious stones

metal

22.9 x 38.1 cm (9 x 15 inches)

Bequest of Gwendolen Armstrong Rives, 1972.

PSNC.3031.1-.47