VANITY & DRESSING TABLE ITEMS
These are charming decorative objects that also can tell much about their owners. Female adornment goes back millennia so you know you are in good company with millions of historical women, and men for that matter. Over the centuries, dress and grooming became a ritual that it’s easy to ignore these days. The quality and variety of vanity items speaks volumes about the pride and detail people took in their appearance.
TINY PORCELAIN SCENT / SMELLING SALTS BOTTLE WITH HALLMARKED SILVER LID BIRMINGHAM 1905 CHARLES MAY
The date letter is worn on this screw top lid but it looks to be for 1905 and likely made by Charles May. A stunning little thing, perfect for using scent or salts on the go, slipped into your reticule. The porcelain body has beautiful painted floral pattern but has suffered a crack and been mended at some point but this does not detract from the beauty of the piece and is still quite usable. £35
STUNNING PAIR OF ART NOUVEAU STERLING SILVER AND FAUX TORTOISESHELL HAIR BRUSHES BY MAPPIN & WEBB, LONDON 1924
This stunning pair of brushes is hallmarked for London 1924 and though the marks are rubbed you can just make out that they are by the great Mappin & Webb. A quality pair made from faux tortoiseshell with exquisite inlaid Art Nouveau silver swirl pattern, they are in excellent condition. There are a few small areas where the inlay is lifting a little but there is no visible chips, cracks or water damage. £75
ART DECO BRASS AND BLUE GUILLOCHE ENAMEL HAND MIRROR & CLOTHES BRUSH
The blue on this is gorgeous and the enamel is in great overall condition as is the glass of the hand mirror. A lovely accent for any Art Deco dressing table. £26
ART DECO BRASS AND BLUE GUILLOCHE ENAMEL HAND MIRROR & CLOTHES BRUSH
A lovely attractive vintage dressing table set with gilt metal handles and embroidered gold and cream backings. Circa 1950s and in superb overall condition. £22
1950S VINTAGE PIFCO GREEN HAIRDRYER WITH ORIGINAL BOX
The ultimate addition to any vintage dressing table! This 1950s green hairdryer is a great quality piece by Pifco with original plug and wire AND.....in full working order! It would be a good idea to get the electrics checked and PAT tested but she definitely does work beautifully still. A great stylish addition to your vintage home! £25
ART DECO LEATHER CASED MANICURE SET
Perfect for the jet-setting travelling lady, this leather cased manicure set screams Art Deco lines but probably dates to 1940s. Containing a set of red celluloid manicure tools all in good order and an internal compartment. Superb overall condition. £35
MID CENTURY LEATHER CASED MANICURE SET WITH FAUX MOTHER OF PEARL HANDLED TOOLS
This is a lovely cased set and almost complete, and certainly unused. Made by Two Tix, a popular maker of travel sets in the mid 20th century and with pretty faux mother of pearl handled manicure tools. £18
PRETTY CERAMIC TRANSFER PRINTED HAT PIN STAND
From a time when hat pins were a staple of every woman's ensemble, this lovely Devonware Fieldings Ceramic hat pin stand is a lovely example in great condition with transfer printed swags and garlands with flowers giving it a lovely Rococo/Regency style. These days it could be used for thin flower stems or decoartive grasses - or even hat pins! £12
SMALL GLASS SCENT / SMELLING SALTS BOTTLE WITH STOPPER
These are great if you're styling for the Georgian and Regency period (before screw-tops!) and want some simple stoppered bottles for your dressing table or fainting damsels! This early flask shaped example has it's original sponge which would have held the scent to waft under your nose. Excellent condition. £24
ART DECO PURPLE GLASS DRESSING TABLE SET
This is a fab piece of Art Deco and great for lovers of purple! Comprising a trinket tray, scent bottle with stopper, powder bowl with lid and scent bottle with rubber atomiser. In superb condition with only minor wear commensurate with age. £38
SMART MID-CENTURY PAIR OF GREEN GLASS SCENT BOTTLES -ONE WITH ATOMISER
This is a great decorator's piece or for a sharp Art Deco style accent to your dressing table, despite dating to circa 1950s/60s. A pair of green glass ribbed bottles, one with a plain lid and one with an atomiser. The puffer has been replaced and the mechanism mended so it works. The plain lid has the screw top insert which could also be converted to an atomiser. The bottle with the atomiser has slightly thicker glass. In excellent overall condition, no chips or cracks. £25
1930S TRIPLE GOURD ART GLASS SCENT BOTTLE WITH ATOMISER
Beautifully elegant triple gourd scent bottle, believed to be French opaque art glass with marbled effect. Original atomiser with the rubber now rigid and degrading so for decorative use rather than action. An old repair to the neck. 20cm tall. £38
1930S MOULDED GLASS SCENT BOTTLE WITH CHROME PUFFER
This is a gorgeous example of these types of bottles with chrome puffers from around the 1930s-40s. The atomiser is in working order but is missing the glass tube into the liquid which could be replaced. The glass is in great condition with no chips or cracks. £35
STERLING SILVER AND CUT GLASS ROUND SCENT BOTTLE - BIRMINGHAM 1909 E F BRAHAM LTD
A staple for any Victorian or Edwardian dressing table. Scent wasn't about designer branded bottles, any chemist would mix up a blend to your taste which you could decant into your own choice of beautiful scent bottles or personal travel bottles. A classic Edwardian style this is hallmarked for 1909 by a great Birmingham maker and in superb condition - apart from one little dent to the lid which could be easily repaired. It has the original stopper which is currently stuck in. £55
EDWARDIAN GLASS SCENT BOTTLE WITH STERLING SILVER EARLY PLUNGE ATOMISER - CHESTER 1909 BY JOHN & WILLIAM DEAKIN
One of the earliest forms for atomiser, having only been invented in the 1880s, this is a lovely example from a quality silversmith. Hallmarks are crisp and clear and the cut glass is in good order. The mechanism itself is not working so it could be restored but it still makes a lovely piece of period dressing, with or without the plunger. Height 6" inc. plunger. £40
LATE VICTORIAN/EDWARDIAN CUT AND ETCHED GLASS SCENT BOTTLE WITH EARLY SILVER PLUNGER ATOMISER
A great example of early atomisers, with a collar stamped "sterling silver", so this is possibly American and likely circa 1900-1910. The plunger is in good working order with the spring intact and in lovely overall condition. Height 7.5" inc. plunger. £40
HOBNAIL CUT GLASS HAIR COLLECTOR WITH CHASED BRASS LID
Another solid Victorian dressing table staple, this time with a less expensive chased brass lid rather than silver. Collecting hair from brushes was common practice and used for stuffing cushions and wig making among other things! Good quality hobnail cut, but likely moulded glass in good condition. £20
EDWARDIAN HALLMARKED STERLING SILVER MOULDED GLASS DRESSING TABLE POT
This charming little moulded glass pot has a hallmarked sterling silver mount which, to be fair, has been better days but is marked for London 1906. The glass is in great condition otherwise. £12
MOULDED HOBNAIL GLASS SCENT BOTTLE WITH ORIGINAL WORKING ATOMISER
In great working order is this moulded glass scent bottle with original atomiser and brass top. Unmarked and believed to be circa 1910-20. No visible damage. £25
1940S/1950S GLASS SCENT BOTTLE WITH OVERSIZED PUFFER
Lovely decorative moulded glass scent bottle circa 1940s/1950s with oversized green silk puffer atomiser with tassel. Puffer is probably not original but helps to make this a lovely statement for your dressing table. Atomiser works but is missing the tube that pulls up the liquid from the bottle which could be replaced. £14
VINTAGE CUT GLASS PERFUME / SCENT BOTTLES & POTS
Great for building a display of bottles on a dressing table or window display. Mostly vintage cut glass and in good order. £8-15 each. Bulk discounts available.
SMALL EARLY STYLE GLASS BOTTLES
These early style glass bottles and pots can be great for styling displays but also cover 17th and 18th century styles, being useful for smelling salts, scent, fake poison or even ink pots! £5-10 each. Bulk discounts available.
VINTAGE STERLING SILVER VANITY BRUSH SET
Comparatively modern, though still over forty years old, this is a lovely sterling silver vanity set comprising hair brush, hand mirror and clothes brush with opulent and baroque-esque floral relief work. As it’s a more modern copy, its therefore far more affordable and cleaner than its Victorian counterparts and a wash should enable it to still be used as it was meant to be. Hallmarked for Birmingham 1978 with makers mark for Broadway & Co. £25
1950S CREAM DRESSING TABLE SET WITH SILVER PLATED ACCENTS
This is an elegant five piece dressing table set comprising tray, hand mirror, hair brush, clothes brush and comb. The silver plated accents have tarnished except under the top layer of the tray so you can see the original colour, but I think the patina looks better! For period dressing this could be from anywhere from the 18th century onwards! £30
SILVER PLATED THREE PIECE BRUSH & MIRROR SET
Possibly dating to the 1940s-50s this charming three piece set comprises hair brush, hand mirror and clothes brush. It has been loved and used for many years as you can see from the wear to the machine decorated backs where the under layer of copper showed through but is still in great condition and now has a soft patina. £30
SELECTION OF VINTAGE HAND MIRRORS AND HAIR BRUSHES
Mostly mid century, these charming little pieces of social history will lend a lovely vintage accent to your dressing table! £8-15 each depending
PAIR OF CHROMIUM PLATED MEN'S HAIR BRUSHES
These are most likely Art Deco with machine decoration and a cartouche inscribed " C C ". These would have been a more affordable option than silver or silver plated and are in superb condition. £18
SELECTION OF IVORINE OR BONE DRESSING TABLE ITEMS
Great for styling from the Georgian period onwards, but much cheaper than ivory! Celluloid was created to simulate ivory in the early 20th century making it affordable for more people. All the pieces are either ivorine or bone and priced £8-15 each depending.
PAIR OF VICTORIAN IVORY MEN'S BRUSHES
The staple of every gentleman's dressing kit - a matching pair of hair brushes. A gentleman with the initials "RH" owned these at first and clearly took care of them as they are in excellent overall condition. Certainly pre-1947 so currently safe to sell as antique. £25
ART DECO METAL CASED VANITY BOX WITH CONTENTS
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SELECTION OF SOLID EBONY DRESSING TABLE ITEMS
If you are styling a Victorian, or deeply masculine dressing table from any era, this is a great place to start. Solid ebony pieces ooze period appeal and you have a good selection from trays and candle holders, to glove stretchers and turned wood pots. For more information on any piece drop us a line. Bulk prices available. Priced between £8 - £15 each.
SELECTION OF EARLY CELLULOID FAUX TORTOISESHELL DRESSING TABLE ITEMS
This is a charming set of early celluloid plastic dressing table pieces designed to look like tortoiseshell. Indicative of the 1920s and 30s when new plastics enabled everyone to afford a luxury look. £8 per item.
1930S/40S LEATHER CASED TRAVEL MANICURE SET
This lovely cased manicure set once belonged to someone with the initials "PJC". Who was she? (Or he...men like nice nails too!) Sadly it is missing a piece and I've never seen a set that is gilt and white metal like that but I'd love to find a replacement for it. £15
ART DECO BLUE GLASS SCENT BOTTLE AND TRINKET POT
A stylish addition to any dressing table, this pair of blue glass items are in excellent condition with Deco style fan shaped stoppers. Good solid glass with weight to them, not flimsy or too delicate to use. Scent bottle stopper has a few tiny chips to the bottom but otherwise no chips or cracks. £28
SELECTION OF TAN LEATHER COLLAR BOXES
Collar boxes are no longer used to store your collection of crisply starched wing-tips but they can be wonderfully useful for storage and create a gorgeously mellow vintage look. Some are missing their straps so prices vary but all in great condition. Discounts for multiple items. £15-30 depending on condition. 8 available.
1950S LEATHER CASED MEN'S VANITY TRAVEL SET
This was a Christmas gift from Pam to Charlie, likely in the 1950s, but Charlie never used it. Still in as new condition with her hand written label, this is a story I’d like to know! Comprising leather case, comb, brush and two shaving sticks/pots and two packets of safety razor blades. Made by Two Tix. Why didn’t he use it?! £35
SELECTION OF CUT THROAT RAZORS & BOXES
A selection of cut-throat razors in varying condition, with handles made of plastic, celluloid or bone. Some have lovely engraving from the maker, all have rust to different degrees so definitely not recommended for use anymore! £5-15 each depending on condition.
EARLY 20TH CENTURY BOXED TRAVEL SAFETY RAZOR
One of the earliest safety razors, conveniently stowed in this little travel box. Sadly he has seen better days and there appears to be a piece missing to fix the head to the stem, however this would make a charming piece of set dressing or ideal for a restorer. £12
EDWARDIAN SILVER HANDLED MANICURE TOOLS
All together these make a fabulous display and individually add lovely period detail to any dressing table. Most of the handles are hallmarked Sterling Silver with one or two exceptions that are silver plated or unmarked. The tool parts themselves are plated. Priced between £5-10 each or discounted for multiples.
VINTAGE CUFFLINK / DRESS STUDS BOXES
Keep your cufflinks, shirt studs, paper clips or anything you like neatly and smartly with a charming piece any gentleman would be proud of! £10 each