This travel set was purchased by a Mr Benjamin Walter Bennett for his daughter Agnes Jean Bennett sometime in the 1930's. He was a mill inspector and innovator and was employed to visit mills and share his knowledge on the best way to mill flour.
You will find another listing we have with an award he received when much younger when studying. You will find it here.
He travelled with his daughter and bought her this gorgeous travel case to accompany her in their travels. We were lucky enough to be given the opportunity to sell this by her granddaughter. We also have a cased photo of Agnes that will company the set.
The set includes a travel case which opens to reveal a top section filled with all types of jars, a mirror, hair brush, clothes brush, comb and nail care set. These are held in place by special tabs and straps some with studs others just secured in place by the tabs. All the pieces apart from the comb are decorated in guilloche enamel in a bright blue.
There is one empty strapped place and we don't know what it held.
All the pieces in this set are sterling silver and apart from the comb all have a gilded finish with gorgeous bright blue enamel with guilloche patterning. All the jars are crystal with facet cutting and the screw lids are sterling silver topped with enamel.
There is a small amount of enamel loss to the mirror handle as shown and the mirror it self has some fine pale spotting to the mirroring. The handle of the mirror shows some wear to the gilding showing the sterling silver beneath. These things are all shown in the photos. The nail care set has gold plated steel ends which show some rust. The enamel handles of the nail care set are hallmarked beneath the enamel.
All the silver is hallmarked for Walker & Hall 1931 but at the different assay offices of London, Sheffield and Birmingham. We have not polished the silver and as can be seen the gilding is bright and reflective on some pieces and tarnished on others. There is no corrosion, chipping indents or damage apart from that already mentioned.
The top section holding all the brushes, mirror, comb and jars can be closed to become its own carry case and can be removed. The lower part of the case would most likely be for night attire and underwear. All the inside is lined with water wave taffeta in a pale shade of pink. There is some damage to the fabric as shown and all the elastic pockets to the carry case are perished so have no elasticity left in them. There are parts of the water wave taffeta that is frayed and has some silver fish damage.
The cases both inner and outer are in really good condition with top stitching and the handle has a cover attached by studs to protect it. The cases come with original keys.
