Magento Commerce

A fine selection of Ladies & Gents Vanity boxes.

Dressing Cases and Vanity Boxes were made to carry personal and toiletry items during travel for the genteel ladies and gentlemen and were popular from the end of 18th Century to the last quarter of the 19th Century. During the first part of this period most Dressing Cases were made for men. These were used for going to war, for education or even just visiting friends. Ladies during this time did not travel very much therefore not many ladies vanity cases were available. However, from the beginning of the 19th Century cases for ladies became more popular for long visits to grand houses visiting relatives or friends.

The Vanity/Dressing Boxes would contain perfume bottles, mirrors, brushes, combs, manicure sets and sometimes items for writing and concealed jewellery trays. The popularity declined for men during the Victorian era because men were expected to be more masculine and ladies to be soft and pretty. Towards the end of the 19th Century Dressing Boxes became popular with all ladies, not just the more affluent.