Box of delights at Hansons

Hansons Auctioneers has discovered a rare dressing case dating from circa 1852 during a recent home visit in the Sutton Coldfield region.

The coromandel wood dressing case would have been commissioned by a wealthy Victorian family to contain all of their toiletries and related accessories on their travels.  The fully fitted interior retains the original solid silver and silver gilt lidded bottles made by Harris and Brownett of London in 1852.  Asprey of London also retailed comparable dressing cases aimed at the high-end market during this period.

Such pieces are rare and highly desirable today with collectors and investors willing to pay many thousands of pounds to acquire them. Hansons says this example is estimated to fetch over £7,000 when auctioned in their Summer Fine Art Auction on 1st July.