A very pretty Napoleon III period three-tier ‘travailleuse’, or work table, fitted out for use as an elegant vanity unit. The top tray opens with a hinged lid to reveal a mirrored back and a luxurious pink velvet-lined compartment, capacious enough for storing a host of essential beauty accoutrements, while two lower trays provide extra storage. Each tier is beautifully decorated with an intricately inlaid design and bordered with a brass band – the top tray featuring an entwined ensemble of musical instruments, and encircled by a delicate brass gallery. Each of the four ebonised legs is beautifully curved and shaped. Includes the original key.

Paris, Circa 1880