Coromandel Vanity Box by E & E Emanuel

Description A Victorian coromandel vanity box by E & E Emanuel, with sterling silver topped cut glass jars and multiple secret compartments concealed within the interior. The vanity box is of rectangular form, richly veneered in striking coromandel and edged throughout in brass with refined double brass stringing framing both the lid and front. The exterior is centred by a distinctive star shaped initial plaque engraved with two family crests above the initials RPD, positioned above a circular brass barrel escutcheon to the front. Opening the box reveals a superbly preserved interior. The lid is lined in deep blue ruched velvet, while the brass faced interior retains a complete arrangement of original cut glass jars topped with finely engraved sterling silver lids. Each lid carries a matching family crest and is fully hallmarked for London by the respected silversmith Charles Boyton, dating to 1850 in the early Victorian period. The inner lid of the box has a removable stand alone mirror and multiple partitions used for storing large accessories and personal items. The design of the interior extends far beyond its immediate appearance. A discreet push button at the rear activates a spring mechanism that releases two wings, revealing a hidden vanity tray beneath. The tray contains an assembled suite of grooming instruments including cut throat razors, scissors, and further steel and mother of pearl accessories. Beneath the wings lie the first concealed compartments. Once the wings are fully extended, a concealed button within each wing can be depressed and carefully slid across to expose narrow secret chambers built into the structure of the box. When the wings are returned to their original position, the central tray rises for use. Removing the upper middle bottle within each wing reveals an additional hidden mechanism; pressing the concealed release opens spring loaded drawers integrated into the body. Each drawer remains lined in blue velvet and partitioned for rings, cufflinks, pins, and other small personal items. The brass face is signed E & E Emanuel, Silversmiths to the Queen, 5 The Hard, Portsea, confirming the maker’s royal appointment and reinforcing the quality associated with their work. Combining luxurious materials, ingenious mechanical design, and a fully appointed interior, this Victorian coromandel vanity box represents the highest standard of mid nineteenth century dressing cases. Surviving examples with this level of originality, complex cabinetry, and complete silver fittings are increasingly scarce. An outstanding coromandel vanity box by a recognised maker to the Queen, demonstrating the mechanical sophistication and material quality associated with the finest Victorian dressing cases. View our extensive antique Vanity Box collection. E & E Emanuel E & E Emanuel were well regarded nineteenth century silversmiths, jewellers, watchmakers, and opticians operating from Portsmouth, with premises at The Hard and later at 101 High Street, as well as a London address at Burlington Gardens. Trading throughout the Victorian period, the firm held Royal appointments and supplied high quality silver, dressing cases, pocket watches, chronometers, and specialised instruments to both private clients and naval officers. Contemporary advertisements also record their provision of sextants, telescopes, and other maritime equipment, reflecting Portsmouth’s importance as a major naval port. Pieces bearing the Emanuel name demonstrate the firm’s focus on practical engineering, refined materials, and dependable construction, characteristics that aligned closely with the expectations of a Royal warrant holder serving Britain’s military and professional classes. For further information see our Makers and Retailers page on E & E Emanuel. Charles Boyton Charles Boyton was an established London silversmith whose family firm operated across four generations, producing sterling silver, electroplate, and later distinctive Art Deco designs. Apprenticed in 1807, he registered his first hallmark in 1825 and built a successful workshop that expanded under subsequent generations of the Boyton family. Trading as Charles Boyton & Son by the late nineteenth century, the firm remained active well into the twentieth century, while Charles Holman Boyton later established an independent workshop known for its signed Art Deco silver. For further information see our Makers and Retailers page on Charles Boyton. Coromandel is a valuable wood found in India, Sri Lanka and South East Asia. It has a contrasting hazel-brown colour with black grain. It is a dense, heavy wood that is so popular it has been logged to extinction over the last few hundred years. For further information see our woods encyclopaedia on Coromandel. Mother of Pearl Mother of pearl is an organic-inorganic composite material produced by some molluscs as an inner shell layer. It is the same material that natural pearls are made from and is desirable due to its strong and resilient makeup along with its beautiful iridescent shimmer. Victorian Victorian is an era of British History corresponding approximately with the reign of Queen Victoria from the 20th of June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901 however, there are arguments stating that the Victorian era is actually from 1820 until 1914 proceeded by Georgian era and followed by the Edwardian era. Why Buy from Mark Goodger Antiques? With over thirty five years of specialist experience, Mark Goodger Antiques is recognised internationally as a leading authority in antique boxes and related works of art. Every item offered has been personally selected by Mark, whose knowledge and judgement are trusted by collectors, institutions, museums, interior designers, and fellow dealers worldwide. Every purchase is supplied with a full supporting package for clarity and reassurance. This includes a Certificate of Authenticity, a detailed condition and care guide specific to your item, our most recent catalogue, and a separate invoice suitable for insurance and valuation purposes. Each piece is carefully examined prior to sale to ensure accuracy of description and quality. Your purchase is fully insured during transit and protected by our straightforward money back guarantee, allowing you to buy with complete confidence. We pride ourselves on transparency, expertise, and long term relationships with our clients, many of whom return to us repeatedly over decades. When you buy from Mark Goodger Antiques, you are purchasing from a specialist family business built on knowledge, trust, and an unrivalled focus on antique boxes.