An exquisite vanity case with a complex design of geometric patterns and a centrally located opalescent and iridescent landscape mosaic created from shell. The rectangular case is fabricated in a horizontal orientation with a three step design revealing rounded corners on the left and right sides with a gold base and a straight blue enamel line on the two lower steps. The face is composed of a background of four separate step designs repeated on each quadrant made of gold, blue and a lighter blue enamel with a border design of gold with a blue step design on the right and left sides. Black enamel surrounds the negative space of all geometric forms on the face. In the center exists a calm rectangular landscape constructed of a sky, clouds, mountains and land carved from mother-of-pearl shell displaying lighter hues and a tree on the left and a mountain on the bottom left carved from iridescent abalone displaying luscious blues and greens. The diamond border encases the landscape with two pink red square cut rubies centered on the top and bottom with a step design fabricated of diamonds surrounding the top of the top rubies and bottom of the bottom rubies.The photograph captures the vanity case revealing the bottom and face on an angle with a cast shadow reflecting the bottom on a white ground.

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See more objects with the tag landscape, geometric, mosaic, vanity case.

Object Timeline

	We acquired this object.
1924	Work on this object began.
1934	Work on this object ended.
2017	We photographed this object. We exhibited this object.
2024	You found it!

Vanity Case, Landscape, ca. 1929

This is a Vanity Case.

This object is not part of the Cooper Hewitt's permanent collection. It was able to spend time at the museum on loan from Private Collection as part of Jeweled Splendors of the Art Deco Era: The Prince and Princess Sadruddin Aga Khan Collection.

It is dated ca. 1929. Its medium is mother-of-pearl, rose-cut diamonds, square-cut rubies, enamel, 18-karat gold, platinum, mirrored plate glass.

It is credited Lent by Private Collection.

Box (Russia)
chased, engraved and partially nielloed and gilt raised and cast silver.
Gift of Sarah Cooper Hewitt.
1931-61-16

Tunisian Enameled Silver Pectoral Necklace

Tunisian Enameled Silver Pectoral Necklace
nylon thread, silver, lapis, amber.
Judith R. Tishman Collection, gift of Peter V. and Lynn P. Tishman.
2002-16-7

Box
ivory.
Bequest of Katherine Strong Welman.
1908-23-19-a,b

Our curators have highlighted 4 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:

This object has not been digitized yet.

Drawing, Design for Cypress Tree Vanity Case, 1928
gouache, gold leaf on buff tracing paper.
Lent by Van Cleef & Arpels.
5.2017.4

This object has not been digitized yet.

Drawing (Facsimile), Design for Panther Vanity Case, 1925
original drawing: graphite, india ink, gouache on buff tracing paper.
Cartier Paris Archives.
6.2017.1

Earrings (Italy)

Earrings (Italy)
gold, enamel, mosaic.
Gift of Emily H. Chauncey.
1952-103-3-a/f

Its dimensions are

L x W x D: 7.4 × 4.8 × 1.3 cm (2 15/16 × 1 7/8 × 1/2 in.)

It has the following markings

English importation marks

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Jeweled Splendors of the Art Deco Era: The Prince and Princess Sadruddin Aga Khan Collection.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/DayWi/
Accession Number 13.2016.53
Object ID 420577157