World-class collection of vanity cases in Chichester

One of the world’s greatest collections of antique dressing, vanity and travelling cases is to be exhibited at the Chichester showroom of LAPADA-accredited dealer, Richard Gardner Antiques.

The exhibition will run from Tuesday 1st September to Saturday 3rd October and include examples by the likes of Asprey, Garrard, Aucoc, Jenner & Knewstub, Thornhill, West, Wilson & Co, Edwards, Leuchars and others.

The cases will highlight the exquisite work of each of their makers, such as the exceptionally fine engraved work in this Jenner & Knewstub example (left).

Similarly, an extensive travelling case (below) by Thornhill features silver fittings and has the arms of Davalos of Castile, Marques del Vasto and Marques Pescuera.

Rare cases at the exhibition will include the Spencer Churchill vanity case (below) by Garrard, which was commissioned in 1844 for Jane, Duchess of Marlborough, the great grandmother of Sir Winston Churchill.

A wedding case of the Duke and Duchess of Montpensier by Aucoc (below), will also be exhibited. The case was a gift from King Louis Phillipe of France to his son, Antoine d’Orleans on the occasion of his marriage to Infanta Maria Luisa Fernanda, sister of the Spanish Queen Isabella II on 10th October 1846.