A rectangular, shallow vanity case with a central inlaid panel of two figures in a garden. The rest of the case is mother-of-pearl etched with geometric designs. The inlaid panel is made from iridescent shell in shades of green-blue, sky blue, and purple-pink, on a black enamel background. Two robed figures stand in conversation in a garden, with a leafy branch overhead and a bridge in the background. Sparkling chips of shell glitter below the bridge and along the ground. The right figure’s right arm is crossed over their body to gesture over their left shoulder, while their left hand sweeps toward the other figure. This figure’s hands are bundled up against their body in the long trailing sleeves of their robe. Both figures have round faces and full hairstyles. A bright gold frame encloses the panel. The remainder of the case is shimmering white mother-of-pearl inscribed with geometric designs filled in with deep blue enamel. The border surrounding the panel is overlapping circles with small diamonds at center. The sides have a design of short diagonal lines and dots, like a broken basket weave. The rounded edges of the case are deep blue enamel or lapis lazuli bordered in gold, with panels of rectangular cabochon turquoises and diamonds centered on each top edge.

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See more objects with the tag gold, mother of pearl, enamel, vanity case.

Object Timeline

	We acquired this object.
1923	Work on this object began.
1933	Work on this object ended.
2017	We photographed this object. We photographed this object. We exhibited this object.
2024	You found it!

Vanity Case, Lac Burgauté

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. 1928. Its medium is mother-of-pearl, lac burgauté, enamel, cabochon turquoise, lapis lazuli, mirrored plate glass, gold, diamonds.

It is credited Lent by Private Collection.

Box Box
H x diam.: 2.7 x 7 cm (1 1/16 x 2 3/4 in.).
Gift of the Estate of Harry G. Friedman.
1966-2-12

Box
enamel.
Gift of J. Lionberger Davis.
1968-1-19-a,b

Locket
mother-of-pearl.
Bequest of Katherine Strong Welman.
1908-23-27

Our curators have highlighted 2 objects that are related to this one.

The back side of a rectangular picture frame, featuring a complex, delicate inlaid landscape and heavy geometric mounting. The inlaid scene is assembled from a mix of materials: various stones, abalone shell, mother-of-pearl, gold. The scene depicts the view of a formal garden landscape from a raised terrace. The upper two-thirds of the background is clouded sky, in a mix of creamy brown and iridescent shades. The landscape below is in a mix of pale, medium, and dark brown shades. A central, straight pale beige avenue or reflecting pool runs back into the distance. Short paths branch left and right: left to a light brown round pavilion with large arched windows, backed by a dark brown row of trees, and right to a mass of dark brown trees. In the middle ground are two tall trees, filling the frame. To the left is a thin, bare tree with golden branches and small clusters of bright blue-green shell foliage at the very top. A mottled brown-and-teal mass of shell at its base suggests shrubbery. To the right is a fuller tree, with cedar-like foliage made from vivid, iridescent shell in shades of olive, teal, and rose. In the foreground is a terrace railing in pale pinkish brown. Atop a short pillar on the right is a carved blue-green urn. Below, a blanket of red-orange foliage with white blossoms climbs over the low railing. A thin black frame with diamond corners encloses the scene. The deep side of the frame has a floral motif in shades of pale orange and yellow at the top; the bottom is obscured by the stout onyx bracket supporting the frame. These flanking brackets are L-shaped, with the legs turned in to face each other. The top outer and bottom inner corners are rounded off. The brackets have two protruding golden pegs set with bright green cabochon stones, spaced at the middle and bottom of the picture frame. The brackets rest on a low footed pedestal made from yellow-brown and grey striated stone.

Mechanical Picture Frame
moonstone, black enamel, gold, abalone, hardstone, tinted mother-of-pearl,....
Lent by Private Collection.
13.2016.107

Clock with Stand Clock

Clock with Stand Clock
copper, enamel, gilt bronze, glass.
Bequest of Katherine Strong Welman.
1908-23-11-a,b

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/DayWn/
Accession Number 13.2016.54
Object ID 420577161