A Vanity Affair, presents one of the most exceptional and unique private collections of vanity cases and minaudières ranging from the 18th to the mid-20th century. It features 160 cases, some of the most coveted in the world, signed by the greatest jewelry maisons such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Lacloche Frères, Boucheron and Tiffany & Co., tracing the fascinating evolution of the Art du Nécessaire.
The ultimate jeweled fashion accessory
These cases were designed and made mostly in Paris by skilled designers and craftsmen who understood that this modern woman needed a practical but exquisite solution for carrying her necessaries.
Ingeniously tiny, made of precious metals with inlays of lacquer, gemstones, mother of pearl, jade, coral, or enamel, these “reticules” took hundreds of hours of craftsmanship to complete and reflected the distinctive styles of their day, be it Belle Époque, Art Deco, or Oriental.
A consistent feature of these cases is the inventiveness of their engineering, and they are indeed mechanical wonders with hidden hinges and layered compartments—as inventive as they are beautiful.