A good 19th century Kingwood Lady’s Dressing Case. Silver Hallmarked 1823.

A superb quality early 19th century Kingwood Lady’s Dressing Case with twelve hallmarked silver-topped glass bottles and containers. The fitted blue velvet tray, with its gilt embossed decoration, contains 2 pairs of scissors, an MOP penknife, corkscrew, hook and nailfile, plus a large white-metal threading needle. The tool-tray lifts out to reveal a leather storage space below, which in turn lifts out for more storage with a blue velvet base. Each of the hallmarked silver tops is monogrammed with the letters “MH”. The case itself is made of finest kingwood and embellished with inlaid brass strips, recessed campaign handles to each side and further panels, including a blank rectangular cartouche to the lid and escucheon on the front.

The inside of the lid is lined with gilt embossed and decorated panels and covered in ruched blue velvet. The top is lockable and opens by means of the original key (supplied) revealing an emerald green letter wallet inside. Behind the letter wallet is a maroon leather backed mirror which can be removed and opens to become a free-standing vanity mirror.

The box is unsigned but is of exceptionally high quality and typical of the work of the famous London based Box-maker David Edwards (see below). Hallmarked: London, 1823, the silver maker stamp ID AD is unidentified.

Maker: David Edwards established his cabinetmaking business in 1813 based at 84 St James’s Street, London. He remained at this address for about a year, before moving to 21 King Street, Bloomsbury, London. He gained a great reputation for the quality of his work, David Edwards was appointed, ‘Writing and Dressing Case manufacturer to his most gracious Majesty’, soon after King William IV came to the throne in 1830.Thomas’s son, Thomas Jeyes Edwards, succeeded him in the running of the business, winning a prize medal for ‘excellence of workmanship’ for his dressing cases and writing boxes at the Great Exhibition of 1851. Thomas Jeyes remained at the forefront up until the firm of Edwards was absorbed into Asprey in 1858. He continued on to work for Asprey until his retirement in 1872.

Date: c.1823.

Dimensions:  Width: 12.5 inches Depth: 9.5 inches Height: 5.9 inches (32cm x 24cm x 15cm)