Vanity Box in Rosewood by Howell James & Co
£2,100.00
Vanity box in rosewood by Howell, James & Co, dating to 1837 during the late Georgian period and the reign of William IV. The box is of rectangular form with brass edging and is veneered in rosewood. The lid features... Read More
Vanity box in rosewood by Howell, James & Co with cut glass jars, sterling silver lids and fitted mother of pearl accessories. Dated 1837.
| Dimensions | 30 × 22 × 18 cm |
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| SKU | 501035TVCE |
Description
Description
Vanity box in rosewood by Howell, James & Co, dating to 1837 during the late Georgian period and the reign of William IV.
The box is of rectangular form with brass edging and is veneered in rosewood. The lid features a vacant stylised initial plaque, twin circular brass escutcheons and flush mounted brass carrying handles.
The interior is lined in rich red velvet and fitted with a ruched inner lid concealing a secret rear compartment. Inside is a mirror, storage for envelopes and the retailer’s label for Howell, James & Co of Regent Street, London.
The fitted interior retains ten cut glass jars with engine turned sterling silver lids, including three examples with pierced silver decoration. The silver is hallmarked London for Thomas Whitehouse and dated 1837.
The jars surround a removable fitted tool pad containing mother of pearl handled vanity accessories including a nail file, button hook, pricker, two pairs of scissors, a corkscrew, tweezers and a waxer.
Beneath the main tray is additional storage, while a lockable drawer to the front provides further space for jewellery and personal items.
The box is fitted with high quality Bramah locks and remains an excellent example of early nineteenth century vanity cases retailed by Howell, James & Co.
View the full Vanity Box Collection.
Mark Goodger Antiques has handled Georgian, Regency and Victorian vanity boxes for decades, including examples in rosewood, coromandel, tortoiseshell, walnut and leather. Our stock regularly includes fitted dressing cases with silver mounted bottles, concealed compartments, jewellery drawers and travelling accessories by leading retailers such as Asprey, Leuchars and George Betjemann.
Through continued study of construction methods, retailer labels, silver marks and interior fittings, we place particular emphasis on authenticity and completeness. Understanding original tool layouts, glass fittings and period locks is essential when assessing genuine nineteenth century vanity boxes.
Measurements
18cm High x 30cm Wide x 22cm Deep (7 x 11.8 x 8.66 Inches)
Who were Howell James & Company?
were a firm of jewellers and silversmiths based in Regent Street in London which operated between 1819 and 1911. In 1876 they added galleries showing professional art pottery and the fashionable amateur china painting, and immediately became the main London venue for this.
For further information see our Makers and Retailers page on Howell James & Company.
Who was Thomas Whitehouse?
Thomas Whitehouse was a London silversmith active from 1848 to 1898, specialising in silver fittings for dressing cases, travelling bags and personal accessories. Working from Clerkenwell, an area known for specialist silver production, he operated from Wellington Street, Goswell Road and later Northampton Square.
His work focused on finely made functional silver components, supplying luxury retailers with precision-made fittings for high-end travelling goods. He is known to have worked closely with Asprey of London, placing him among the leading specialist suppliers of the period.
Following his death in 1898, the business continued under the same mark before later trading as Whitehouse Brothers in the early twentieth century.
For further information see our Makers and Retailers page on Thomas Whitehouse.
Rosewood
Rosewood has many variations. Indian Rosewood, also known as Bombay Rosewood or Bombay Blackwood, is found in India and Indonesia. It is highly valued for its striking appearance with colours ranging from a medium-brown to dark red-brown with even darker grain lines. Madagascan Rosewood, found in Madagascar is a pink-brown colour with a darker almost purple grain.
For further information see our Woods Encyclopaedia on Rosewood.
Who are Bramah?
Bramah is London’s oldest security company. Established at 124 Piccadilly, London in 1784, and today based in Fitzrovia, London and Romford, Essex. Bramah manufactures Bramah and Rola locks for domestic and commercial applications in the U.K. and overseas. We are Marylebone and Fitzrovia’s foremost Locksmith and Burglar Alarm installer.
For further information see our Makers and Retailers profile on Bramah.
What is Mother of Pearl?
Mother of pearl is an organic-inorganic composite material produced by some molluscs as an inner shell layer. It is the same material that natural pearls are made from and is desirable due to its strong and resilient makeup along with its beautiful iridescent shimmer.
What is the Georgian Era?
The Georgian era was a period in British history from 1714 to 1837, named after the Hanoverian kings George the First, George the Second, George the Third and George the Fourth. Many historians also include the short reign of William the Fourth, whose death in 1837 marks the close of the era. Within this broader period lies the Regency era, which refers to the years when George the Fourth served as Prince Regent during the illness of his father George the Third.
Why Buy from Mark Goodger Antiques?
With over thirty five years of specialist experience, Mark Goodger Antiques is recognised internationally as a leading authority in antique boxes and related works of art. Every item offered has been personally selected by Mark, whose knowledge and judgement are trusted by collectors, institutions, museums, interior designers, and fellow dealers worldwide.
Every purchase is supplied with a full supporting package for clarity and reassurance. This includes a Certificate of Authenticity, a detailed condition and care guide specific to your item, our most recent catalogue, and a separate invoice suitable for insurance and valuation purposes. Each piece is carefully examined prior to sale to ensure accuracy of description and quality.
Your purchase is fully insured during transit and protected by our straightforward money back guarantee, allowing you to buy with complete confidence. We pride ourselves on transparency, expertise, and long term relationships with our clients, many of whom return to us repeatedly over decades.
When you buy from Mark Goodger Antiques, you are purchasing from a specialist family business built on knowledge, trust, and an unrivalled focus on antique boxes.
Additional information
Additional information
| Dimensions | 30 × 22 × 18 cm |
|---|---|
| Year | |
| Medium | |
| Country | |
| Period | |
| SKU | 501035TVCE |
