Rare Antique English Shagreen Vanity Set c.1920, Goldsmiths & Silversmiths London, 5-Piece Boxed Dressing Set Brushes Mirror

Details

Description

A truly exceptional circa 1920 English shagreen vanity set, this luxurious five-piece dressing ensemble was retailed by the prestigious Goldsmiths … Read more A truly exceptional circa 1920 English shagreen vanity set, this luxurious five-piece dressing ensemble was retailed by the prestigious Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company of London, one of Britain's celebrated luxury retailers and a firm associated with Royal patronage. Remarkably, the set survives together with its original fitted presentation case, creating a wonderfully complete example of early 20th-century dressing-table luxury.

The set comprises four coordinating grooming brushes and a matching hand mirror, each beautifully finished in richly textured green shagreen. The distinctive surface displays the characteristic tightly patterned, bead-like texture of shagreen, with wonderfully varied shades of sage, olive, and deeper green. Contrasting pale edging emphasizes the graceful outlines of the pieces and gives the entire collection an especially refined appearance.

The individual forms are elegant yet restrained, capturing the transition from Edwardian luxury into the cleaner geometry that would come to define the Art Deco period. The two handled brushes feature beautifully balanced silhouettes, while the pair of slender rectangular brushes provides a striking symmetry when the set is displayed together. The large hand mirror completes the ensemble and is particularly impressive with its broad oval form and elongated handle.

Adding considerably to its appeal is the original fitted presentation box. The substantial case opens to reveal a carefully arranged interior designed specifically for the five pieces, with individual fitted compartments for the brushes and a luxurious gathered satin-lined lid securing the mirror. The original retailer's insignia for the Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company, London remains visible inside, providing an important connection to the set's prestigious retail history.

Good antique condition - the presentation box is fragile and has some separations of dividers. There is some age-related discoloration to the shagreen. The foil in the mirror has age-related spotting and deterioration. Please review the photos for further condition assessment.

Presentation Box: 14.5 inches wide, 7.5 inches deep and 3.5 inches high
(2) Rectangular Brushes: 6.5 inches deep, 1.75 inches wide and 1.75 inches high
(2) Curved Brushes: 9.25 inches deep, 3.5 inches wide and 1.75 inches high
Mirror: 11 inches deep, 4.5 inches wide and 0.50 inch high

The Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company was synonymous with fashionable London luxury, supplying fine silver, jewelry, watches, presentation pieces, and sophisticated personal accessories to an affluent clientele. The firm's Royal associations make its surviving retailed pieces especially appealing to collectors of British luxury goods.

Finding an antique shagreen dressing accessory is desirable in itself; finding a coordinated five-piece set still housed in its original retailer's fitted case is considerably more unusual. The combination of exotic shagreen, elegant period design, prestigious London provenance, and remarkable completeness gives this ensemble tremendous decorative and collector appeal.

Whether displayed open on a dressing table or preserved as part of a collection of shagreen, Art Deco accessories, English luxury goods, or antique vanity pieces, this is a sophisticated survivor from an era when even everyday grooming objects could be made with extraordinary attention to materials and presentation. See less