What is a Regency ladys dressing case?

A Regency ladys dressing case is a specialised wooden box designed during the early 19th century to store personal grooming tools, silver-mounted glass bottles, and cosmetic accessories.

What materials were traditionally used in 19th-century dressing cases?

These cases were typically constructed from hardwoods such as kingwood, rosewood, or mahogany, featuring brass inlay, velvet linings, sterling silver fittings, cut glass jars, and mother-of-pearl tools.

How can one identify authentic dressing cases from this era?

Authentic pieces exhibit hand-cut dovetail joinery, official silver hallmarks, original glass bottles, and brass stringing consistent with early 19th-century cabinetmaking.

How can this item be styled in a modern interior?

Displayed open on a bedroom dressing table or console table, a dressing box serves as a functional accent piece that displays silver and glass accessories.

What is the proper care and preservation for a kingwood and silver case?

Clean the timber exterior with a dry microfibre cloth and beeswax polish, while gently buffing silver fittings with a silver cloth to prevent tarnish without disturbing adjacent materials.

for sale €2,282 $2,477

£1,950

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A Good 19th Century Kingwood Lady's Dressing Case. Silver Hallmarked 1823.

Name: A Good 19th Century Kingwood Lady's Dressing Case. Silver Hallmarked 1823.
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA940830
Price: 1950 GBP
Availability: InStock

19th century

For Sale by Quiet Street Antiques of Bath

Description

A superb quality early 19th century Kingwood Lady's Dressing Case with twelve hallmarked silver-topped glass bottles and containers. The fitted blue velvet tray, with its gilt embossed decoration, contains 2 pairs of scissors, an MOP penknife, corkscrew, hook and nailfile, plus a large white-metal threading needle. The tool-tray lifts out to reveal a leather storage space below, which in turn lifts out for more storage with a blue velvet base. Each of the hallmarked silver tops is monogrammed with the letters "MH". The case itself is made of finest kingwood and embellished with inlaid brass strips, recessed campaign handles to each side and further panels, including a blank rectangular cartouche to the lid and escucheon on the front.

The inside of the lid is lined with gilt embossed and decorated panels and covered in ruched blue velvet. The top is lockable and opens by means of the original key (supplied) revealing an emerald green letter wallet inside. Behind the letter wallet is a maroon leather backed mirror which can be removed and opens to become a free-standing vanity mirror.

The box is unsigned but is of exceptionally high quality and typical of the work of the famous London based Box-maker David Edwards (see below). Hallmarked: London, 1823, the silver maker stamp ID AD is unidentified.

Maker: David Edwards established his cabinetmaking business in 1813 based at 84 St James’s Street, London. He remained at this address for about a year, before moving to 21 King Street, Bloomsbury, London. He gained a great reputation for the quality of his work, David Edwards was appointed, ‘Writing and Dressing Case manufacturer to his most gracious Majesty’, soon after King William IV came to the throne in 1830.Thomas’s son, Thomas Jeyes Edwards, succeeded him in the running of the business, winning a prize medal for ‘excellence of workmanship’ for his dressing cases and writing boxes at the Great Exhibition of 1851. Thomas Jeyes remained at the forefront up until the firm of Edwards was absorbed into Asprey in 1858. He continued on to work for Asprey until his retirement in 1872.

Date: c.1823.

Dimensions: Width: 12.5 inches Depth: 9.5 inches Height: 5.9 inches (32cm x 24cm x 15cm)

Physical Dimensions

Height

15cm (5.91")

Width

32cm (12.60")

Depth

24cm (9.45")

Declaration

Quiet Street Antiques of Bath has dated this Antique Kingwood Dressing Case to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA940830

Dealers Internal Reference

1338/Q

Dealers Notes

Shop Open: 10.00am - 6.00pm Monday-Saturday (Closed Sundays)

Description

A superb quality early 19th century Kingwood Lady's Dressing Case with twelve hallmarked silver-topped glass bottles and containers.

“

The fitted blue velvet tray, with its gilt embossed decoration, contains 2 pairs of scissors, an MOP penknife, corkscrew, hook and nailfile, plus a large white-metal threading needle.

Quiet Street Antiques of Bath

The tool-tray lifts out to reveal a leather storage space below, which in turn lifts out for more storage with a blue velvet base. Each of the hallmarked silver tops is monogrammed with the letters "MH". The case itself is made of finest kingwood and embellished with inlaid brass strips, recessed campaign handles to each side and further panels, including a blank rectangular cartouche to the lid and escucheon on the front.

fig 1. An open 19th-century kingwood dressing case with brass inlay, lined in blue velvet and fitted with silver-topped glass bottles, silver containers, and manicure tools. — fig 1. A Good 19th Century Kingwood Lady's Dressing Case. Silver Hallmarked 1823.

The inside of the lid is lined with gilt embossed and decorated panels and covered in ruched blue velvet. The top is lockable and opens by means of the original key (supplied) revealing an emerald green letter wallet inside. Behind the letter wallet is a maroon leather backed mirror which can be removed and opens to become a free-standing vanity mirror.

fig 2. An open 19th-century kingwood dressing case with brass inlay, lined in blue velvet and fitted with silver-topped glass bottles, silver containers, and manicure tools. — fig 2. A Good 19th Century Kingwood Lady's Dressing Case. Silver Hallmarked 1823.

The box is unsigned but is of exceptionally high quality and typical of the work of the famous London based Box-maker David Edwards (see below). Hallmarked: London, 1823, the silver maker stamp ID AD is unidentified.

fig 3. An open 19th-century kingwood dressing case with brass inlay, lined in blue velvet and fitted with silver-topped glass bottles, silver containers, and manicure tools. — fig 3. A Good 19th Century Kingwood Lady's Dressing Case. Silver Hallmarked 1823.

Maker: David Edwards established his cabinetmaking business in 1813 based at 84 St James’s Street, London. He remained at this address for about a year, before moving to 21 King Street, Bloomsbury, London. He gained a great reputation for the quality of his work, David Edwards was appointed, ‘Writing and Dressing Case manufacturer to his most gracious Majesty’, soon after King William IV came to the throne in 1830.Thomas’s son, Thomas Jeyes Edwards, succeeded him in the running of the business, winning a prize medal for ‘excellence of workmanship’ for his dressing cases and writing boxes at the Great Exhibition of 1851. Thomas Jeyes remained at the forefront up until the firm of Edwards was absorbed into Asprey in 1858. He continued on to work for Asprey until his retirement in 1872.

Date: c.1823.

Dimensions: Width: 12.5 inches Depth: 9.5 inches Height: 5.9 inches (32cm x 24cm x 15cm)