Exquisite antique French wood, brass and 950 sterling silver Necessaire travel case. The case was made in France and exported to England to be retailed. Has beautiful ebony case with brass inlay throughout. Opens to reveal 7 glass/crystal containers of various shapes, with sterling tops, a sterling pitcher 7 1/4" height (18.4cm) with detachable handle, a sterling 3 piece water heater with base, container and handle in the top tier of the case. Also in the top tier is a sterling tray 10 3/4" length x 8" width (27.3cm x 20.3cm) with lift out fitted tray covered in royal blue silk on the bottom. The royal blue silk was used on the bottom of a divided tray under the lift-out tray, and throughout the various compartments and drawers of the chest. In addition, the top tier of the chest is fitted with 2 oval containters 3 3/4" length x 2 3/8" width (9.5cm x 6cm) with sterling tops, 2 different size rectangular containers with sterling tops, and a sterling top with no container. The top center drawer contains 11 items in sterling, ivory and steel on a dark royal blue velvet lift-out fitted tray. The items are manicure and shaving implements. The blades of the two straight razors are marked "Boudet 143ET144 Palais Royal," and "Stone" is inscribed in script on each handle near the blade. Nail file is marked "ENGLISH STEEL ?ake" on the file portion with a sterling handle. The bottom center drawer is divided into four compartments. The compartment at the back of the drawer contains a telescope-type slide case with an ivory shoehorn inside. The compartment in the center of the drawer contains a case which holds an ivory handled brush 7 3/8" x 1 1/4" (18.7 x 3.1cm). The front compartment contains another slide case with two brushes: 1 military style 4 1/2" x 2 3/4" (11.4cm x 6.9cm) and 1 brush with an ivory handle 9" x 2 3/4" (22.8cm x 6.9cm). There is a small empty covered compartment on the right side of the drawer. There is a small empty covered compartment on the right side of the drawer. There is a small drawer on the far left side of the case which holds the sterling handles for the pitcher and the water heater. There is a second drawer on the far right side with a dark royal blue velvet fitted lift-out tray holding three sterling flatware pieces 7 1/4" knife, 7 1/8" spoon and a 7" fork (18.4cm, 18cm, 17.7cm). The space under the tray is empty. All of the sterling in the Napoleaon chest has the matching design of a long with tied bow to top. 65 pieces total. Minerva head export mark in hexagon denoting a French origin and silver standard of 950 to each piece of sterling. Each piece also holds SERGENT AINE French maker's marks in diamond. Each piece holds English import marks denoting the town of London and LAO sponsor's mark (the company responsible for importing the item, often silversmiths themselves). Marked 925 however the French export marks denote a conflicting purity of 950. 19th century. Measures 9 1/4" height x 13" width x 18 1/2" length (23.4cm x 33cm x 46.99cm). Total approx. weight of 39.3 lbs / 17.84 kilos. The necessary, cases involving essential accessories has an occupation, may be considered as witnesses of a given period, revealing fashions and tastes of the moment. This exhibition sets out to highlight their history, and the great diversity of objects of everyday life. The Princess Palatine, Duchess of Orleans, would have been one of the first to use the term ncessary in the eighteenth century, in his correspondence. Howover, the sixteenth century, these boxes already seem to have made their apparition. In the 1743 edition of the dictionary Trevoux defines this as a small box divided into compartments to contain different things or necessaries convenient to travel. The first contain the necessary utensils for the preparation or consummation of a meal or snack. Gradually the way opens for other activities: washing, sewing, writing and drawing. In the 18th century many of them are intended for scientific or technical use and are made with great attention and uses of decorative arts. Under Louis XVI, all these functions are gathered in a single package, sometimes imposing, as evidence by the famous words necessary to Marie Antoinette in the Musee International de la Parfumerie in Grasse. In the 18th century and then under the First Empire, France acquired an undisputed supremacy as evidenced by Martin-Guillaume Biennai and Napolean Goldsmith.