CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN

French Nécessaire de Voyage Contents

A French nécessaire de voyage could be considerably more comprehensively equipped than the typical English dressing case. Larger examples might contain kettles and spirit burners, tea caddies, tea and coffee pots, cream jugs, sugar bowls, porcelain cups and saucers, cutlery, drinking glasses, wash basins, ewers, serving trays and removable candlesticks. 

Accommodating such a large number of objects within a portable case required considerable ingenuity. Fittings were arranged with extraordinary precision, often in multiple layers, with trays, utensils and containers fitted above, below and around one another so that virtually no space was wasted.

Some pieces were designed to nest within others, further reducing the amount of room required. This highly efficient use of space is one of the defining characteristics of the finest French nécessaires.

Ebony nécessaire de voyage with its mirror, fitted containers, tools and accessories arranged outside the case.
Antique Nécessaire de Voyage Dressing Case in Ebony with Floral Brass Inlay by Aucoc Ainé à Paris. VIEW THIS BOX →
Vanity tool tray from an antique nécessaire de voyage dressing case by Aucoc Ainé à Paris.
Vanity tool tray from an antique nécessaire de voyage dressing case by Aucoc Ainé à Paris. VIEW THIS BOX →
An ivory sewing etui from an antique nécessaire de voyage dressing case by Aucoc Ainé à Paris.
An ivory sewing etui from an antique nécessaire de voyage dressing case by Aucoc Ainé à Paris. VIEW THIS BOX →
Close-up of the engine-turned silver kettle from an Aucoc Ainé French nécessaire de voyage, with its detachable handle.
engine-turned silver kettle and drinking set from a French nécessaire de voyage by Aucoc Ainé à Paris.
Silver kettle sliding out from its upturned stand, from an Aucoc nécessaire de voyage.
The kettle slides out from the upturned kettle stand.
Silver drinking beaker, spirit burner and wadding case fitted inside the kettle.
Removing the kettle’s lid reveals a silver drinking beaker, spirit burner and wadding case neatly fitted within.
Complete contents of the silver kettle and drinking set from an Aucoc nécessaire de voyage.
Full contents of the silver kettle and drinking set.
Spirit burner with a lower chamber for spirit-soaked wadding.
The spirit burner has a lower chamber to hold the flammable spirit-soaked wadding.
Silver kettle held in its stand above the spirit burner, with its tortoiseshell handle attached.
The kettle stand is placed over the spirit burner. The top rim of the kettle stand holds the kettle securely in place whilst the drink within is being heated by the flame of the spirit burner. The tortoiseshell handle connects to a mount on the side of the kettle. Once the drink has been suitably heated, it can be poured directly from the spout of the kettle into the drinking beaker.
A pair of hair curling irons from an antique nécessaire de voyage dressing case by Aucoc Ainé à Paris.
A pair of hair curling irons from an antique nécessaire de voyage dressing case by Aucoc Ainé à Paris.

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