Printed from Woolley & Wallis

Description

Berlioz Leroy, an Art Deco gold and enamel chinoiserie vanity case, circa 1930, rectangular with stylised clouds to the hinged cover, the red enamel ground within black enamel borders, the small carved jade thumbpiece depicting Shoulao to the slide with the Shou emblem for longevity, the interior with two covered side compartments, a hinged lipstick holder, and a mirror to the hinged cover, signed to the cover Berlioz Leroy, Paris, Cannes, La Baule, to the base makers mark AP for Auguste Peyroulx, and French control mark, 7.6cm wide, approximately 190g (without mirror)

Mademoiselle Berlioz and Monsieur Leroy established their jewellery business in the late 1920s at 19 Rue de la Paix, Paris. They quickly developed a reputation for original and beautiful jewels that combined richly contrasting coloured stones such as lapis lazuli, jade, black onyx, turquoise, and coral. Berlioz and Leroy were quick to adapt to the new fashions that followed the Art Deco period and particularly with Oriental influence. Their bold designs were enthusiastically picked up by the press and were particularly featured in French Vogue. From the start, the house also designed accessories such as compacts and vanity cases, such as this lot. Their fame and fortune spread through the first half of the 20th century. The maker of this particular box was Auguste Peyroulx, at 5 Rue d'Alger, Paris. Peyroulx also made boxes for Cartier.