Description

Magnificent Coromandel Silver Dressing Case by Austin of Dublin
veneered in sumptuous Coromandel with brass edging, stringing, decorative brass stars and has engraved entwined initials in the top, these are replicated on the interior sterling silver lids inside this wonderful case.

The vanity box contains ten superb engraved sterling silver hobnail cut glass jars all hallmarked Thomas Johnson 1859 and stamped Austin. The accoutrements tray contains scissors & mother of pearl knife, dip pen, button hook & pricker, there’s a removable mirror to the top of the box which is accessed by squeezing a button under the top edge lock plate and to gain access to both drawers there is a button at the front flap of the box push this down releases the flap and reveals the two drawers. To open the drawers there is a brass pin between the two hinges at the back of the box, by pushing this down the first drawer springs open revealing a purple leather lining, then to release the second drawer the name plate of Austin where the brass pin is to release the first drawer also presses down and the drawer reveals the wonderful gold tooled silk & velvet lined jewellery drawer.

This outstanding Silver Vanity box comes with its original key and fully working lock.

More information about the Austin family.

The firm was started by George Austin Senior in 1827 and his son Thomas joined the business in 1841, although the firm always traded as George Austin & Co. By 1847 Thomas had succeeded his father as the main manager of the firm and it was he who was praised by the adjudicators of the furniture
section of the Exhibition of Irish Manufacture, Produce and Invention, held by the Royal Dublin Society on the lawns of Leinster House that year “for his ornamental Buhl cabinets and writing desks”.

In 1857, George Junior formally joined the business. The firm exhibited at
the R.D.S.’s Fine Art Exhibition at Earlsfort Terrace in 1861 with a range
of travelling furniture. The firm, like a few others in the city, had tapped into the lucrative market of camp or travelling furniture which was aimed at the grand tourist and also the British army on campaign. Thomas and George
moved to new premises at 39 Westmoreland St the same year.

The firm was a medal winner in Section C, Class 3 Furniture at the R.D.S.`s Dublin Exhibition at Ballsbridge in 1872 (Freemans Journal 2nd December
1872, P. 6).

Politically, the Austin’s appear to have kept a very low profile and were never mentioned as having been involved in any of the many trade disputes and conflicts which occurred between the operatives and their masters in the trade throughout the century. Most cabinet making firms did not last long in 19th century Dublin so the fact that George Austin & Co. survived for more than fifty years, through a time of many economic depressions, strikes,
lockouts, scab labour and the flooding of the country with mass-produced cheap furniture from factories in Birmingham, Manchester and London’s East End for an undiscerning Irish middle class, is a testament to the firms high
standards of design and manufacture, and business management.

Austin, George, 7 Andrew St 1828 – 1836
(& 9 William St) 1837 – 1840
(& Thomas) 1841 – 1851
(6 & 7 Andrew St only) 1852 – 1856
(& George [grandson]) 1857 – 1860
(& 39 Westmoreland St) 1861 – 1878

Additional information