Discover a Parisian Boudoir

Baroness Blanche Staffe wrote in her 1893 Etiquette book "The dressing room of every well-bred woman should be both elegant and comfortable in proportion to her fortune and position."

Antique Hand Painted Limoges Vanity Tray, meant to hold perfume bottles and powder boxes.

Nowhere was this more true than in 19th century France, when a lady delighted in "getting ready" for the day or the evening at a luxuriously appointed vanity, her personal space for which she chose a glittering assortment of mirrors, brushes, boxes and products she used for making herself more beautiful.

Rare to find in this condition, this is a French Powder Compact with celluloid bottom, filigree decorative mounts on each corner, and an exceptional French romantic scene on the front. Unused, it comes in the original box and tissue from the shop of Georges Hautecoeur, 172 Rue de Rivoli, Paris.

Today, the exquisite objects they used in their private quarters are beloved for their high quality, great beauty, or simply for their whimsy, as some of these items are not things we use in our daily lives anymore.

This Apollo Studios Perfume Atomizer has a petite hand painted portrait on the front.

I count myself fortunate at FrenchGardenHouse to have fellow collectors of these feminine, romantic antiques of the past, and always rejoice when opening the parcels and boxes of boudoir antiques I gather especially for you fellow collectors! I know you will revel right along with me and select from these sumptuous personal antiques that, though small, will add your personal and divine touch to your most private quarters. Even a pincushion can be beautiful. Often embellished with porcelain half dolls, who would't love to have dressmaking pins presented in such a grand manner as this? Jewelry Boxes and Caskets fit for a queen, or in this case, with a hand painted portrait of Napoleon's Empress on the top! Boxes for the boudoir or dressing room came in all sorts of shapes and sizes. The one below was presented with a luxurious assortment of candy. Wrapped sweets were such a luxury, and they were quite costly. Luxury shops had special boxes designed with gold fittings, silk coverings and dressmaker details, each more luxurious than the next. Writing {love} letters was done in private chambers, it would be delightful to pen a missive to one's sweetheart with a writing set of this divine quality, non? Hand Mirrors are always a luxury item that my fellow collectors of all things feminine and beautiful snap up. These are a few I acquired recently, they are available in the Boudoir. These are a few of the latest acquisitions to feather your vanity, bedroom, or bathroom, and to add to your collection of all things romantically feminine. Fine quality luxuries to aid in the daily celebration of you. French hardboard box covered with gold metallic lace and ribbon work rosettes, for keeping handkerchiefs or other small accessories. This small celluloid bookmarked could be tied on a chatelaine, or perhaps tied with a silk ribbon in a favorite hue. The floral gilt embellishment adds a lovely feminine touch. I hope you have enjoyed these romantic antiques from a time when women surrounded themselves with little luxuries to make them smile each time they saw them! What do you do each day to make yourself feel beautiful?