A Victorian coromandel toilet box by Mechi

A Victorian coromandel toilet box by Mechi, the hinged lid with an oval brass plaque engraved with initials, the underside fitted with a pull-out mirror and a leather letter pouch, with makers label with garter inscribed 'MADE BY MECHI, LEASDENHALL ST. & 112 REGENT ST. LONDON', above a fitted interior of silver topped bottles, jars and boxes, by William Neal, London 1854, with lift-out trays of mother of pearl handled sewing and manicure utensils, with a Bramah lock, with a base silk lined jewellery drawer, 17.7cm high, 33cm wide, 24cm deep.

Provenance: The Dr Lawrie Webster Collection of Boxes.

John Joseph Mechi was born in London in 1802. His father was Italian and a barber by trade and was at one time the court barber. John opened his first shop in 1827 at 4 Leadenhall Street and specialized in cutlery, shaving equipment and vanity boxes. He is mentioned in the catalogue of the Great Exhibition in 1851 as producing 'Dressing cases, work-boxes, writing tables, tea-chests and elegancies for presentation.'