Rare Original 1930s Vanity Set in Sterling Silver and Green Enamel,
Now this is something.
Beautifully made and in the most exquisite materials, this wonderfully complete English dressing table set brings together the elegance of sterling silver, luminous pale green enamel and classic Art Deco design.
The enamel is particularly beautiful. Decorated with a striking geometric pattern, it has that unmistakable Art Deco quality, sophisticated, graphic and wonderfully glamorous without ever becoming fussy. The soft green seems to glow against the silver, giving the pieces an almost jewellery-like presence.
And then there is the real treasure: the completeness of the set.
Rather than a lonely surviving brush or mirror, here we have an entire little dressing-table ensemble: two hairbrushes, two clothes brushes, a hand mirror, a lidded powder pot, a comb, and a complete four-piece manicure set with its original stand.
Everything is made from sterling silver, and every silver piece is fully hallmarked. Several pieces are also stamped Mappin & Webb.
The Mappin & Webb name has been synonymous with fine British silver since 1775. A Royal Warrant holder since 1897, the distinguished firm is still creating fine jewellery and silver today. The set carries predominantly 1930s English hallmarks.
There is something wonderfully romantic about objects made for everyday rituals that were nevertheless made with this much care. These were never merely things to be used and put away. They were meant to sit beautifully on the dressing table, ready for the morning rituals of another era.
Overall in great antique condition, with tarnish to the silver and only damage to enamel of a couple pieces. See all pictures.
The Hairbrushes
Two beautiful matching hairbrushes, made from sterling silver and decorated with the same exquisite pale green Art Deco enamel.
Details Weight: approx 144 gram each
220 x 60mm
Condition: Both in great condition, tarnish.
The Clothes Brushes
Two matching clothes brushes, beautifully finished in sterling silver and pale green enamel.
Details
Weight: approx 83 gram each
135 x 30mm
Condition: One is in great condition, only slight tarnish. The other has a dent to the silver and some damages to the enamel. See pictures.
The Hand Mirror
A beautiful hand mirror with a sterling silver back decorated in the same geometric green enamel pattern, making it a particularly lovely centrepiece to the collection. The mirror glass has a facetted border.
Details
Weight: approx. 224 grams
250 x 100mm
Condition: Good antique condition, spots to the mirror, tarnish to the silver, scratches to the enamel at the triangle. See pictures.
The Powder Pot
A wonderfully elegant lidded powder pot with its original crystal glass liner, housed in a sterling silver and pale green enamel mount. One of those gloriously beautiful little dressing-table objects that makes you wonder why we stopped making everyday things this lovely.
Details
The silver lid weighs 58.80 grams
Diameter: 100mm
Condition: Excellent, minor tarnish to the silver
The Comb
A beautiful Art Deco comb with its sterling silver and green enamel detailing. Th ecomb is self is from dark brown materail stamped handmade.
Details
Weight: approx 44 gram
180 x 32mm
Condition: Great condition, the comb is loose in the silver setting.
The Manicure Set
And then there is the manicure set, a complete four-piece set presented on its original matching stand.
The handles are made from sterling silver and decorated with the same gorgeous green enamel, while the working ends of the three tools are made from stainless steel.
Details
The tools weighs approximately 44 grams, the buffer 38 grams, the stand approx 200 grams (has wood at the bottom).
Dimensions: 100 x 140 x 150 mm
Condition: Good condition, lots of tarnish, some enamel loss to the nail buffer, faded hallmarks to the tools. Overall an outstanding addition to any dressing table!