Description

‘Titanic’ themed Vanity Box

Thuya Silver Gilt Vanity Box by Betjemann & Sons. Retailed by the famous department store B. Altman & Co of New York. This outstanding box was given by Joseph Bruce Ismay (known as Bruce Ismay) director of the White Star Line of steamships (famous for building the Titanic), as a present to his wife Julia Florence Schieffelin. It’s possible that the box was commissioned as a wedding anniversary present.

This year, 2012, sees the commemoration of Titanic’s 100th Anniversary.
Bruce Ismay was the highest ranking official of the White Star Line to survive the fateful maiden voyage of the Titanic. He was the son of Thomas Ismay, who owned the White Star Line, and was a partner of the business, eventually becoming its Chairman & director following Thomas’s death in 1899. He played a pivotal role in the design of the Titanic.
The box, made from rare Thuya wood (very unusual in these type of boxes) contains a total of twelve silver gilt bottles, a carriage clock all stamped George Betjemann & Sons, and dated 1909 &1910. The protective edging of the box is silver gilt – in other boxes of this type this would normally be brass – this indicates that very high attention to detail & quality would have been requested at the time of its commission.

This Magnificent Silver Gilt Vanity box is veneered in stunning Thuya, is bound in solid silver gilt edging, with the inside of the lid being lined with dark green ruched velvet, on the reverse of which is a removeable mirror. Behind the mirror is a beautiful rich satinwood veneer.

When opened it reveals an assortment of various shaped glass and silver gilt travelling containers housed in dark blue velvet. All the containers are in good condition with no chips or cracks. The glass is plain and each piece of silver is hallmarked George Betjemann & Sons, and dated 1909 &1910. The front folds down to reveal two mirrors and a a set of curling tongs, also this section reveals a button – pushing this down releases the upper section of silver which swings out, revealing trays fully fitted with a wonderful collection of tools including scissors, manicure items, corkscrew, needle-case etc. Underneath these is a section which is released by pressing another silver button which reveals a beautiful jewellery drawer either side of the box, both of these are made of solid satinwood with superb tiny dovetailed joints. The box also contains three more leather jewellery trays – two of which are in the base of the box and can only be accessed when the larger tray is removed.

Additional information