Earl of Hardwicke Jewel box

Charles Philip Yorke became the 4th Earl of Hardwicke in 1834 upon the death of his Father the 3rd Earl.  The 3rd Earl had inherited the title from his Uncle the 2nd Earl because he had no surviving male heir and that is why the title passed to his nephew Charles Yorke.
Charles an Admiral in the British Navy, as was his Father before him, had a long and successful career in the Navy and was a Conservative politician. He was a member of Lord Derby's cabinet and was Postmaster General in 1852 and Lord Privy Seal between 1858 and 1859.  The family seat was Wimpole Hall with the Wimpole estate in  Cambridgeshire.
A jewellery and dressing box we have in stock had been given by Earl Hardwick as a present in 1869, the initials "M. E. Y" intertwined are on the box top in brass and engraved into the sterling silver jar and bottle tops, Yorke being the family name

The box is a very fine quality coromandel wood veneered jewel box  with 14 sterling silver topped cut crystal bottles and jars in the upper layer, all with a  London silver hall mark for 1868. The box was made by Wells & Lambe Manufacturers to the Queen, Cockspur Street London. There is a makers label on the red silk inside the lid.

Coromandel wood veneered Jewel/Dressing box given as a gift by Lord Hardwicke 1869

The lower tray is fitted out with nineteen assorted tools, comprising a mother of pearl button hook,  miniature folding button hook,  propelling pencil by Butler and Co.of London, an ink pen by Gillot of London, three pairs of different size scissors, mother of pearl small hand mirror, three mother of pearl manicure tools, sterling silver hall marked double ended spoon, four assorted cork screws, mother of pearl mounted pen knife, large darning needle and finally a small clip on hook which I think a lady would hang a small pocket watch from. All fitted into a leather edged and dark red velvet tray.

The underside of the lid has a velvet covered panel which when released exposes a leather stationery folder that lift out and behind that a very good quality gilt metal on wood shaped dressing mirror is stored. The free standing mirror is beautifully shaped and engraved and has matching initials engraved into the top edge.

The mirror that fits into the under side of the lid

Graham Smith Antiques has been established for 14 years but Graham has been in the antiques business for 40 years. We trade on line and from showrooms on the edge of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK and all the items shown on the website are available to view at the show rooms where they are set out in four room settings - for ease of viewing. As long time members of LAPADA [the Association of Art and Antiques Dealers], the UK's largest trade association for professional art and antiques dealers, we want all our customers to be confident to buy from us on line or in person and make every effort to make each sale a pleasure. Please take some time to read our Testimonials page which can be found on the home page of our website.