Antique and collectible history

Damascene Compact Mirrors And Vanity Sets And Shinto Symbolism

Damascene Compact Mirrors And Vanity Sets And Shinto Symbolism

This post is dedicated to wonderful vintage Japanese vanities which are ornamented with deeply symbolic Shinto imagery. 

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Japanese Mother Of Pearl Vanity Set

Japanese Ama Divers & The Vanities Which Resulted From Their Work

Set atop the mother of pearl lid is a person pulling a rickshaw. One occupant of the rickshaw is holding a parasol. This scene depicted on the lid is possibly that of a bride and groom. Rickshaws are still used in Shinto weddings. Both the bride and groom are taken by this form of transport to the shrine. Japanese wedding ceremonies are usually attended by a small group of close family members who will walk to the shrine. Traditional Shinto weddings would often take place at a shrine which might be in the home town.

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Richard Hudnut Compacts & Heritage Part One

Richard Hudnut Compacts & Heritage Part One

Richard Hudnut was eighteen years old when he began working for his father. He spent seven years learning every aspect of the business. Both his father, Alexander and Richard visited Europe to study how the Europeans, most particularly the French, conducted their business affairs. 
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Patent-For-Majestic-Majestry-Antique-Powder-Compact

Majestic Brand Compact Mirrors Patents & History

Many collectors of vintage powder compacts and handbags will recognise the brand names Majestic & Majestry. Nathan Kasdan was the founder of the firm who owned these brand names. This company was known as the Majestic Metal Specialities Company of New York. Kasdan was a highly skilled metal worker who was born in Russia in 1889. Kasdan emigrated to America and entered the workforce as a metal worker just before the Russian Revolution. 
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International Silver Co

Watrous Manufacturing Co. The Twinette Vanity Case And The International Silver Company

The International Silver Company operated from 1898–1983. The company was also styled as ISC. The company was formed Meriden, Connecticut.

At one time this business was the largest company in the world specialising in the production of silverware.

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William Colgate Colgate & Co. U.S.A.

Colgate History Patents And Illustrated Timeline

In 1806 William Colgate founded his business in New York. The warehouse premises were located at 6 Dutch Street, NY. The firm was involved in the manufacturing of soap and candles. It may seem a little strange to us but their range of soap included brown soap, as well as pale coloured soap. They also offered fancy soaps which were fashioned into unusual shapes.  

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Manfred Durst Fred Manshaw Ltd Founder Kindertransport Document

History Of Fred Manshaw Ltd. The Kindertransport And The Bleeding Heart Yard Legend

It is impossible to look at the photograph of Manfred Durst on the identity document provided to him by His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom without feeling sad for all the casualties of WWII.  Manfred was one of the children who arrived in Great Britain as part of the Kindertransport humanitarian rescue programme.
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Paul Ettlinger Patented 9 Carat Gold Pocket Case 1904

History And Patents Of Jewellers Joseph & Paul Ettlinger

Joseph Ettlinger and his partner Adolphe Aron were located at 60 Aldermanbury London EC from the late 1860s until the beginning of the 1870s. They were the London partners of Triefus & Ettlinger of 103 rue du Temple, Paris. Both gentlemen became particularly well known for their jewellery, cases, elegant fans, leather & ivory goods. The firm also imported French made luxury accessories. Joseph Ettlinger became the Master of the Worshipful Fan Makers Company in 1904. 
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Antique Cleopatra Vanity Box

Egyptomania & The Cleopatra Vanity Box Company Patent

There has been a fascination for ancient Egypt for hundreds if not thousands of years. William Shakespeare’s play Antony and Cleopatra was first performed by the King’s Men in London c.1607. The plot is based on Thomas North's 1579 translation from Plutarch's Lives. Plutarch (c. AD 46 – after AD 119) was a Greek historian, philosopher and a priest at the Temple of Apollo in Delphi.

In recent history this fascination was fuelled by the Napoleonic War in the Middle East.
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Fully Hallmarked Antique Gold Locket

An Illustrated History Of Jeweller B. H. Joseph & Co. With Timeline

Barnet Henry Joseph was born in Penzance, England in 1837. His father was Henry Joseph & his mother was Amelia Emily Joseph. Barnet married Isabelle Blanckensee, who was the daughter of the well known jeweller Solomon Blanckensee and Julia Joseph. In 1865 this manufacturing and wholesale jewellers was founded by Barnet Henry Joseph and his brother Henry Joseph. The site they occupied was set in the heart of the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter. The address of the manufacturing premises is listed as 18, 19 & 20 Frederick Street.

 

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History Of The Wax Seal, Ciphers & Fobs

History Of The Wax Seal, Ciphers & Fobs

Seals have been used since ancient times to seal goods and important communications. Seals were used as early as the seventh millennium B.C. to stamp impressions in clay.  In the fourth millennium B.C. carved cylinders that could be rolled over clay were being used in Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia included parts of modern day Iran, Syria & Turkey. The cylinder seals were used to create frieze-like designs on clay.
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Le Rage Powder Compact Vintage Advertisement

Le Rage Powder Compacts, History, Patents & Advertisements

This post includes Le Rage patent drawings, advertisements and vintage powder compacts.

The company which manufactured Le Rage brand accessories was known as Evans Components Co. Ltd. The firm was located at the Paragon Works, 37 Hockley Hill, Birmingham 18, England.

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