Objet de Vertu
Objet de Vertu covers an incredibly diverse range of objects.
Typical objet de vertu seen at auction include bijouterie cabinets, French and Japanese
scent bottles, papier mache boxes by Georg Siegmund Stobwasser, Palekh, miniatures,
walking canes and tea caddies as well as carved ivory, often of English or European
origin.
A rare Indian mother of pearl and stone casket (FS27/612) realised £28,000 in July
2015.
Also amongst the objet de vertu commonly found in our auctions are the grand tour
pieces such as plaster cameos that were commonly sold to rich English tourists and
depict ancient or classical Roman and Greek mythology.
The category also include treenwares (ie: small handmade functional household
objects made of wood) such as Welsh love spoons, snuff boxes in the form of shoes
as well as ginger bread moulds and a host of other similar items.
The objet de vertu category also covers tunbridgeware (ie: decoratively
inlaid woodwork from Tunbridge) such as sewing boxes, tea caddies, writing slopes
and parketry boxes.
Specialists
 | Martin McIlroy Department Head
|  | Leigh Extence Clock Consultant
|