Vanities: The Golden Age of Necessaires and Minaudieres

Powder and paint have been used since the dawn of civilization in the eternal quest for beauty. These precious beauty aids needed to be stored in finely wrought boxes and pots, providing goldsmiths, silversmiths and jewellers with unique opportunities to create exquisite miniature works of art to be transported in a purse or handbag.

Vanities celebrates an extraordinary and unique private collection of such boxes ranging from a Huanghuali powder box from the early Ching period in China to contemporary designs. The 20th century can truly be called the golden age of Nécessaires and Minaudi?res. The very best examples of these tiny little miracles of the art and craft of the metal worker and the jeweller are here displayed in all their miniature glory.