Victorian Style Repoussé Cherub and Floral Silver Vanity Box Set
Vanity Set (Dresser Boxes, Trinket Boxes, Powder Jars) · Attributed to late Victorian or Edwardian manufacturers such as William Comyns, Gorham, or Foster & Bailey; often sold via high-end retailers.
Pattern: Repoussé Cherub (Putti) and Floral Filigree; a popular aesthetic rather than a single trademarked pattern.
Type
Vanity Set (Dresser Boxes, Trinket Boxes, Powder Jars)
Maker
Attributed to late Victorian or Edwardian manufacturers such as William Comyns, Gorham, or Foster & Bailey; often sold via high-end retailers.
Material
Likely Sterling Silver (.925) or high-quality Silver Plate over brass/copper. Bases consist of cut lead glass or velvet-lined metal; one includes red textile backing.
Dimensions
Ranging from 2 to 4 inches in diameter/width; weight varies significantly due to glass bases; silver lids estimated at 15-40 grams each.
Description
A charming trio of Edwardian vanity items: a round crystal powder jar with a cherub-themed repoussé lid, a heart-shaped glass trinket box with scrollwork, and a silver-tone filigree jewelry box with a rose motif over red velvet.
Key Features
High-relief cherub iconography, heart-shaped silhouettes, cut-glass textures, and the contrast of bright red textile underlying openwork filigree.
Material & Composition
Likely Sterling Silver (.925) or high-quality Silver Plate over brass/copper. Bases consist of cut lead glass or velvet-lined metal; one includes red textile backing.
Finish & Decoration
High-relief repoussé, chasing, and filigree work featuring Art Nouveau floral scrolls, Rococo-style putti/cherubs, and faceted crystal/cut-glass bases.
Hallmarks & Stamps
Expected marks include 'Sterling' or '925' and maker's initials on the rim of the lids; some pieces may be silver-plated (marked EPNS or Quadruple Plate).
Construction Details
Die-struck or machine-pressed thin-gauge silver lids finished with hand-chasing; glass bases are molded and hand-cut; filigree piece is soldered wire work.
Functional Features
Removable lift-off lids for the glass jars; hinged lid for the filigree heart-shaped jewelry box; velvet lining for protective storage.
Handle & Grip Details
No dedicated handles; lids are gripped via the decorative overhanging rims; heart box lid articulated with a small pin hinge.
Craftsmanship Details
Standard commercial quality for the period; the chasing on the cherub lid shows good detail in the wings and foliage; glass is of superior clarity.
Authentication Indicators
Appropriate patina for age; manufacturing seams consistent with early 20th-century die-striking; glass displays expected weight and clarity for lead crystal.
Origin & Manufacturing
Likely United States (Providence/New York) or Great Britain (Birmingham/London); manufactured in workshops specializing in vanity novelties.
Era & Period
Late Victorian to Edwardian Era (c. 1890-1915), reflecting the Neo-Rococo and Art Nouveau movements popular in boudoir decor.
Age Estimate
Circa 1900-1910 based on the romanticized cherub motif and the style of the hand-cut glass facets.
Cultural Significance
Reflects the early 20th-century obsession with 'The Toilette' and the ritualization of beauty, where even functional storage was treated as fine art.
Condition Notes
Very Good to Good; visible tarnish (sulfide deposits) on the cherub lid; potential minor fleabites on glass edges; some wear to the silver plating on the filigree piece.
Value Estimate
$150 - $450 for the group depending on silver purity; sterling examples with signed makers command the highest premiums.
Care & Maintenance
Clean with a mild silver foam and soft horsehair brush; avoid submerging glass with glued metal collars; store in a dry environment with anti-tarnish strips.
Similar Pieces
Ungar Brothers cherub silver, Matson gold-plated vanity sets (mid-century), and Tiffany & Co. etched glass jars (higher end).
Interesting Facts
Vanity sets were essential status symbols for women of the Gilded Age, often gifted as bridal presents or 'sweet sixteen' tokens.