Vanity case. On the front face is the red lacquer door that opens the case. The rest of the piece is black with gold trimmings. The case is embellished with a thin unfinished square in black (onyx?). The square has rounded corners with the bottom part of the square not shown. On the center of the top horizontal there is a three-diamond bezel with a black circle hanging from it. The corners each on each end are green (jade?) ovals with fan-shaped settings of diamonds slanted toward the corner of the piece. The two verticals each end in green finger-looking shapes set in gold, Each of them is topped with a small diamond finial.

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Object Timeline

	We acquired this object.
1920	Work on this object began.
1930	Work on this object ended.
2017	We photographed this object. We exhibited this object.
2024	You found it!

Vanity Case, ca. 1925

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. 1925. Its medium is red and black lacquer, black and green enamel, diamonds, gold, platinum.

It is credited Lent by Private Collection.

in Art Deco Style with Floral Motif Matchsafe

in Art Deco Style with Floral Motif Matchsafe
gold, enamel, diamonds.
Gift of Stephen W. Brener and Carol B. Brener.
1978-146-37

A vanity case in the form of a small sarcophagus combining Egyptian style imagery with a raised and curved bone lid, a flat bottom and an ornate encasement fabricated from enamel paint, gold, cabochon or smoothly polished stones and carved and polished emeralds and sapphires, faceted diamonds, platinum and onyx. The case could easily fit into the palm of one’s hand. A line drawing of a young person facing left dressed in a long sheath with triangular hands is carved in the bone lid. A jewelled image that resembles the Pharaoh Tutankhamun rests on the left side of the case wearing a striped headdress known as a neme. The neme is encrusted with cabochon sapphire stones that appear to be calibrated to fit in between thin gold lines. The royal insignia of the goddess Wadjet sits on the top of the King’s neme in the form of a cobra for protection embellished with faceted diamonds. The Pharaoh's face is carved from a large translucent emerald with blue sapphire irises embedded in his eyes. His chin wears a fake beard formed into an onyx cylinder. The Pharaoh's body is portrayed as a white leopard encrusted with faceted diamonds and onyx stones with oversized carved emerald paws showing strength. Yellow-orange enamel paints the negative space with blue, green and white papyrus flowers adorning the side edges. Above the Pharaoh’s head the trim is encrusted with three sets of rounded emeralds in between faceted diamonds while a row of diamonds borders the bottom edge. The front of the vanity case displays part of the bone lid bordered with rounded emeralds in between faceted diamonds and a centered diamond thumb clasp with an onyx fluted strip below. The same yellow-orange enamel decorates the front of the case’s body with several blue, green, and white papyrus flowers evenly spaced. Gold-beaded flower buds standing erect are placed in the alternating negative space of the papyrus flowers. The photograph shows the case on an angle displaying the top, front and left side view known as an isometric view with the left side closer to the viewer against a white ground showing a cast shadow.

Object ID #1024497181
bone, enamel, gold, emeralds, sapphires, diamonds, platinum, onyx.
Lent by Cartier Collection, Inv. VC 70 A25.
86.2016.2

A simply beautiful vanity case in rectangular form with rounded edges covered in black lacquer enamel on front and back with red lacquer enamel occupying the far edges. A thin gold line delineates the black lacquer from the red lacquer and outlines two repeat patterns of a contour line of Chinese or Tibetan style clouds with three beginning parenthetical symbols possibly denoting movement. A straight gold line is outlining the edges of both sides of the case and a clasp is centered with a pearl thumbpiece. A diamond and platinum embellishment in the shape of a pointed and scalloped arch is prominently placed at the pearl clasp and on two small hinges that are partially seen. The photograph captures the object in an angle revealing the top, front and a side view against a white ground with a cast shadow.

Vanity Case, Cloud, ca. 1925
gold, lacquer, platinum, diamonds, seed pearls, writing tablet and clip,....
Lent by Private Collection.
13.2016.16

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

A rectangular vanity case with pinched-in, inverted corners, made from a variety of precious materials. The object is laid flat on a white background and angled to the right. The top surface of the case depicts a vertical garden landscape crafted from inlaid pieces of iridescent shell, in mottled shades of blue-green, green, yellow, and purple-pink, forming a stark contrast with the black lacquer background. At upper left is a pavilion with a pointed and swept roof line. At middle right is a large rocky outcropping, with plants at the bottom and a crooked tree growing at the top, spreading over the pavilion. Irregular bands of sparkling, crushed shell below the pavilion and rock suggest earth or water. At the bottom edge, small plants peek into the frame. The tree and plant leaves are delicate clusters of diamonds or long triangles. The garden scene is enclosed with a border of glittering diamonds, trimmed in gold. The rounded sides of the case are rich red enamel, with gold trim at the seam where the two halves of the case meet. Centered on the long side is a protruding pearl thumbpiece for opening the case.

Vanity Case, Garden Scene, ca. 1929
lac burgauté, shell, diamond, enamel, pearl, gold, platinum, mirrored plate....
Lent by Private Collection.
13.2016.47

Compact And Lipstick Baton, Rose

Compact And Lipstick Baton, Rose
lacquer, red and black enamel, carved amber, carved and cabochon coral,....
Lent by Private Collection.
13.2016.48

Vanity Case And Lipstick Holder, Plum Blossom

Vanity Case And Lipstick Holder, Plum Blossom
enamel, rose-cut diamonds, mirrored plate glass, gold, platinum.
Lent by Private Collection.
13.2016.21

Its dimensions are

L x W x D: 6 × 4.6 × 1.4 cm (2 3/8 × 1 13/16 × 9/16 in.)

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/DayZ2/
Accession Number 13.2016.19
Object ID 420577315