603

Rare Antique Inlaid Coromandel Dressing Case, by Jenner & Knewstub, London, 1884, with Betjemann Patent Mechanisms,

the case veneered in coromandel and edged in brass, the interior fitted with ruched blue velvet, opens on automatic spring panels designed by George Betjemann & Sons revealing two winged side trays and a front panel containing six compartments- the upper ones fitted with 13 cut glass bottles and jars with silver piercework and lids monogrammed "AMG" for the bride "Alice Mary Gibbs" and hallmarked London 1884; the central panel with a matching pierced mirror on a push button spring that reveals a secret leather lined wallet/ documents compartment over decorative nickel plated fretwork that conceals a leather-bound drawer lined in matching velvet; the interior compartment over two graduated central drawers containing a monogrammed ivory handle brush set, shoe horn and glove stretcher with three conforming mirrors, the two smaller inset with convex and a concave lens respectively; the case sides fitted with two additional spring latch compartments, the upper ones with 22 vanity tools (mother of pearl handled corkscrew, four pairs of scissors, a retractable tooth pick, a mother of pearl handled stiletto, a solid silver double-ended medicine spoon by John Aldwinkle and Thomas Slater, a napkin hook, a mother of pearl pen knife, a mother of pearl handled nail file and cuticle scraper, a mother of pearl handled pair of tweezers, two bodkin/ ribbon threaders, a solid silver Mordan & Co retractable pencil, a hinged perfume bottle corkscrew, a mother of pearl handled crochet hook, a hinged glove buttoning hook, a pencil lead case, a needle case, a wax seal stamp and a silver handled button hook); the lower side drawers consist of secret compartments made of satinwood and accessed by pressing a sliding button at the base of the box; accompanied with a period photo of Alice Gibbs and lockets of her children's hair, a photo of her son, and a prescription, all of which were kept in the case together with sales receipts and correspondence from Daniel Lucian,
Closed H.- 9 in., Open- W.- 13 1/2 in., D.- 10 1/2 in.

  • Provenance: Purchased by General Charles Crutchley and his wife Eliza (nee Bayfield) of Sunninghill Park, Berkshire (later acquired by the Crown), as a wedding gift to their daughter Alice Mary (1860-1942) who married Henry Lloyd Gibbs (1861-1901); thence by descent in the Gibbs' family through the early 2000s; acquired by Antiquarian Daniel Lucian, London; sold 2017, Private collection, New Orleans.
  • Notes: Special thank you to Daniel Lucian's extraordinary website and sales notes on this piece, to which this catalog entry is indebted.
  • Condition: Condition is not stated in the description of the item. The absence of a condition report does not mean that the item is free of damage or condition issues. Some items do show signs of age or wear. CCAG strongly suggests that you do not bid without requesting a condition report. Requests for condition reports will not be honored after 5 p.m. CST on the Tuesday prior to the auction.

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March 27, 2026 10:00 AM CDT
New Orleans, LA, US

Crescent City Auction Gallery

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