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Description
An outstanding blue enamel boulle work dressing case with brass and mother of pearl inlay including its fully appointed interior. All sides of this case having exquisite arabesque form ” boulle” type marquetry with ebony and etched brass corners, the central medallion on the very top engraved “S.H.Noble August 2nd 1850″ This inscription corresponds to a handwritten note found inside the box with ” Dressing Case belonging to Sarah Noble 1830-1885 Date engraved on the lid 2nd August 1850 (birthday present)?”. A 2nd card with “Dressing Case 1840 lent by Mrs P.Noble Fawcett” which suggests the case was lent to a museum for an exhibition. A wonderful surprise is the original fully fitted interior: 9 crystal glass bottles and containers ( some multi facated and others still having their original makers inventory stickers on the bottoms), all lids and tops fully hallmarked with five stamps including the makers mark of TW, that of Thomas Whitehead, London 1849. Each silver lid has a discreet intertwining of the letters “SHN”. To the left and right side of the removable solid coromandel tray, containers for the original Mother of Pearl and steel implements including scissors, tweezers, button hook and still extremely sharp pen knife. The lid with inset mirror and letter wallet framed by red tooled leather, ebony and coromandel interior woods. Engraved brass lock and hinges and receding side supports. Working lock and key. Coromandel very bottom. An amazing time capsule in this nearly untouched original condition.
height: 5.5 in. 14 cm., width: 12 in. 30.5 cm., depth: 8 in. 20 cm.
