What goes inside a travelling vanity case?

These cases typically house cut glass scent bottles with silver caps, small jars, brushes, and manicure tools. Many also include sections for jewellery, letters, or sewing accessories. Fitted trays lift out to reveal deeper storage compartments or secret drawers hidden beneath the lining.

How do I date a vanity case?

Wood choices, lock mechanisms, and silver hallmarks help determine the age of a piece. Rosewood and coromandel point strongly to Victorian origins, while enamel and geometric shapes suggest later Edwardian or Art Deco periods. Matching silver components often bear assay office marks and date letters that pinpoint the exact year of manufacture.

Were these cases meant for men or women?

Both gentlemen and ladies used travelling vanity cases, though their internal contents differed. Gentleman's boxes generally included shaving sets, cigar boxes, and hairbrushes. Ladies' cases focused more on perfume bottles, vanity jars, and integrated jewellery compartments or writing slopes.

How do I care for the leather exterior?

Leather and crocodile vanity cases require stable humidity and gentle conditioning to keep the hide supple. Avoid placing them in direct sunlight or near heat sources that could dry out the material. Original brass hardware benefits from minimal cleaning to preserve the natural patina accumulated over the decades.

Home > Travelling Vanity Case > Page 3

Antique Travelling Vanity Case

44 items · page 3 of 3

← Page 3 of 3 →

An antique travelling vanity case carries the personal grooming kit of a past traveller, combining polished wood or leather with fitted glass and silver.