A watch, a musical automaton, and 6 pieces of tools all included inside a mere 84mm x 45mm box … isn’t it fascinating? Nécessaires, Etui de Voyage or work boxes, were ladies’ scent and cosmetics boxes that became very fashionable in the eighteenth century. A well to do lady staying with friends could state her position, taste and wealth by the quality of such travelling items. Featured here is a exceptional Swiss musical automata Necessaire made circa 1800, inside it was a velvet lined compartment where one can find a wide selection of various tools to keep one’s appearance, such as scissors, a scent bottle, winding key for the mechanisms of the music, automata and watch and many other wonderful curiosities. The leisured classes were fascinated by the virtuosity and elegance of these luxurious mechanical wonders. Formerly in the collection of John Asprey, this necessaires is one of only two examples known of this size and is fresh to the market. The other known example is kept in the...