CLEOPATRA'S BOUDOIR

In the late Victorian era and into the 1930s, beautiful vanity accessories were being handmade and decorated with the most precious of fabric materials. These pretty items were decorated with delicate lace and ribbon work trims, metallic lame and tiny rosettes adorned powder boxes, glove boxes, hand mirrors, brushes, perfume bottles and powder puffs. 

Many of these items were made in France, and at the Beaux Arts Shade Co in New York, but a majority of them were made by ladies at home. Kits and booklets could be purchased and you could make your own little accessories for the dressing table. 

These items can still be found today, some are a little worse for wear, their silks and satins faded, the trims and lace tattered and decades of dust settled deeply into the folds, creases, nooks and crannies. 

There has been a revival of ribbonwork and new items can be made by purchasing old patterns and the booklets can be found on cd-roms.

Here are some lovely pieces found on ebay to delight you...