Designed to be beautiful as well as functional, objects of vertu are small objects created from precious materials either to be admired simply as works of art or, more often, as luxury items with a practical purpose. The subject includes familiar items such as cigarette cases, scent bottles, snuff boxes, fans, vesta cases, card cases and pincushions plus once fashionable accoutrements such as vinaigrettes, etuis and bonbonnières.
They collectively take their name from the ‘virtuosity’ of their craftsmanship - be it a presentation gold and gem set box from Romanov Russia or a Cartier vanity case made for a 1920s Flapper. Sworders enjoyed huge interest when offering a collection of diminutive porcelain scent bottles made by the Chelsea and St James’s factories c.1750s.
With new interest from around the world, and perfectly sized to appeal to collectors tight on space, this area has recently enjoyed a revival.
Our specialists hold regular valuation days. Please contact us for more information, or complete the online form to enquire about the valuation of your items.
Want to know how much your Objects of Vertu may be worth? Fill out our easy to use form and a member of the team will be in touch with free advice shortly.
We invite you to discover three remarkable portrait busts of the Inglis family of Glencorse, Scotland. Featured in our Fine Interiors sale on 16 & 17 September, they honour both a distinguished family legacy and the work of one of Victorian Scotland’s most renowned sculptors.
11 September 2025
We are honoured to present a selection of works that reflect the legacy of Pimlico Road in our forthcoming Fine Interiors auction. The sale offers a rare opportunity to acquire works that embody not only design excellence, but a distinct sense of place and purpose within the wider canon of British decorative arts.
11 September 2025
With the third instalment of The Paolo Moschino Edit featuring in our 16-17 September Fine Interiors auction (lots 536–572), we had the pleasure of speaking with co-owners and directors Paolo Moschino and Philip Vergeylen to discuss what inspires their distinctive aesthetic, the enduring importance of antiques, and why instinct - guided by discipline - is essential when sourcing at auction.
9 September 2025
