Antique silk covered vanity items were made in France during the Victorian era and continued to grace the boudoirs through the 1930s. The beautiful vanity accessories were being handmade and decorated with the most precious of fabric materials. Often covered in pastel colored silk, they were ornamented with delicate metallic lamé netting, tiny ribbonwork roses, rosettes and fancy passementerie trimming.
These delightful French handiworks often covered hand mirrors, hair brushes, clothes brushes, vanity trays, powder boxes, powder puffs, powder puff wands, shoe horns, hair receivers, glove boxes, pin trays, perfume bottles, talcum powder jars, compacts, comb holders, vanity cases, pin cushions, lamp shades, cigarette holders, hair pin boxes, sewing boxes, manicure set boxes, bed lamp shades, and jewel caskets.
Many of these items were made in France, and at the Beaux Arts Shade Co in New York, but a majority of them were made by ladies at home. Kits and booklets could be purchased and you could make your own little accessories for the dressing table.
The objects recalled a romantic era and are very popular with collectors today, but due to the fragility of the materials, they are hard to find in excellent condition. Some are a little worse for wear, their silks and satins faded, the trims and lace tattered and decades of dust settled deeply into the folds, creases, nooks and crannies.
Some collectors have taken up learning the art of ribbonwork to restore the former glory of their most cherished beauties. There has been a revival of ribbonwork and new items can be made by purchasing old patterns and the booklets can be found on cd-roms.
The ad below is from 1923.
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