{"product_id":"fine-victorian-burled-walnut-vanity-dressing-case-with-silverplate-fittings-secret-compartments-hidden-documents-and-engraved-cartouche-dated-1891","title":"Fine Victorian Burled Walnut Vanity \/ Dressing Case with Silverplate Fittings, Secret Compartments, Hidden Documents, and Engraved Cartouche Dated 1891","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn exceptional late 19th-century Victorian vanity or dressing case executed in richly figured burled walnut veneer with dramatic swirling grain throughout. The exterior retains its original engraved circular cartouche monogrammed “M. Harrison” and dated “1891,” along with an engraved escutcheon and working lock with key. The lock plate bears an oval “O\u0026amp;S” mark over an “L,” likely identifying the lock or hardware manufacturer rather than the maker of the dressing case itself.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe interior opens to reveal a luxurious fitted arrangement lined in deep cobalt-blue velvet and black leather, housing numerous silverplate-topped toiletry jars, lidded compartments, and fitted accessory trays. The silverplate fittings are elaborately engraved with scrolling Victorian ornament and latticework decoration.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe lid interior contains gathered leather letter\/document pockets for correspondence or personal papers, while the lower section conceals additional hidden compartments and lift-out fitted trays. Also retained within the case is a small English-made retractable gentleman’s accessory, likely a cigar piercer or cigar punch, marked with a “BBB” triangle stamp and “Made in England.” The accessory features a plunger-operated mechanism that extends a pointed implement from the body when depressed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRemarkably, the case still contained hidden paperwork tucked within the interior compartments, including jewelry receipts and documents from J.H. Gillgrass Ltd. Jewellers of Leeds, dated 1977, offering an evocative glimpse into the later life and continued use of the case nearly a century after its creation. These surviving personal ephemera greatly enhance the historical character and storytelling quality of the piece.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe craftsmanship and refined fitted interior indicate a high-quality personal luxury object intended for affluent travel or sophisticated domestic use. The burled walnut veneer displays particularly striking movement with warm honey, caramel, and deep brown tonal variation across the surface. The overall presentation is elegant, architectural, and deeply evocative of late Victorian gentleman’s or lady’s personal dressing accoutrements.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"For the Louvre of Antiques LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49031086506239,"sku":null,"price":1750.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0725\/8780\/4927\/files\/378828C4-7108-4462-9BB4-E21F0ECDEE11.png?v=1786984319","url":"https:\/\/forthelouvreofantiques.com\/fr\/products\/fine-victorian-burled-walnut-vanity-dressing-case-with-silverplate-fittings-secret-compartments-hidden-documents-and-engraved-cartouche-dated-1891","provider":"For the Louvre of Antiques LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}