Decorated with black lacquer, the vanity case is composed of five make-up compartments, two with black lacquer covers, and a tortoiseshell comb, with rose-cut diamond-set push-piece. The case is accompanied by its original leather tooled case.
The S Department (S for silver) was set up by Louis Cartier and the designer Charles Jacqueau to sell elegant gifts and everyday goods. Jacqueau had a particular fascination with the idea of a functional aesthetic and the link between functionality and the jeweled beauty of the many items which made up the greater part of Cartier's Art Deco range of vanity cases, cigarette cases and desk-sets. It is said that Jacqueau issued precise technical instructions to the S Department around the designs which he produced for them.
