A very lovely, quality Georgian brass bound rosewood dressing box 1825/6. Fitted, dark-blue Moroccan leather lined interior with lift-out trays and storage compartments. Interior to lid lined in dark-blue velvet with swivel catch which opens to reveal a correspondence folder and a fitted, dark-blue Moroccan leather covered mirror with easel stand. Rear of fitted interior holds four cut-glass and glass stoppered bottles with silver screw tops located within full depth partitions. Centrally there is a shallow rectangular silver topped cut-glass canister which lifts out to reveal a hidden storage compartment with lift-off lid. Towards the front a fitted tray lifts out to give access to a storage tray which in turn lifts out to reveal a further storage compartment. Fitted tray holds two rectangular and two cylindrical silver topped cut-glass canisters together with a silver topped cut-glass travelling ink bottle. Lift-out tray also containing various mother-of-pearl handled accessories as well as manicure scissors, sewing scissors and propelling pencil - these held in two accessory trays which lift out to reveal shallow silk-lined cushioned compartments. Cylindrical canister tops hallmarked for John and Archibald Douglas 1825; rectangular canister tops hallmarked for Archibald Douglas 1826. Ink bottle top is a period replacement to match existing canisters - hallmarked for William Neal 1859. Externally the rosewood veneered case is brass bound with brass campaign-style handles and inlaid brass escutcheon to the lid. Brammer lock (key missing). The case measures 31 cm in width, 23 cm depth and 15 cm in height. Rare to find a complete Georgian dressing case such as this.
 
Archibald Douglas: Son of John Douglas, a master watch and clock maker who registered his first mark as a silversmith (ID) at the London Assay Office in January 1804. Archibald went into partnership with his father, registering their mark as I.D over A.D in February 1821. In 1823 Archibald registered his own mark A.D – presumably following the death of his father. Archibald himself died at a young age in 1837 at which time his wife (Frances) took over the business registering her mark (F.D) in February 1838. The 1851 UK Census records Frances Douglas (aged 39 years) at 13 Saint James Street as a widow and working goldsmith and silversmith employing 8 men and a boy. Archibald and Frances Douglas had a son named Archibald John Douglas who was born in 1834. Archibald John is listed in the 1851 UK Census with his mother as a silversmith. Archibald John subsequently established his business c1864.