The minaudière, a case for storing several personal items in a small space, first appeared during the 1930s.

Extracted from Antiques Trade Gazette | Roland Arkell

Its invention is attributed to Charles Arpels of Van Cleef & Arpels, the firm that produced some of the very best minaudières of the Art Deco period.

This ‘envelope’ example, above, sold for £7600 by Trevanion & Dean (20% buyer’s premium) in Whitchurch, Shropshire, on March 14, is made in 18ct gold, decorated with red and burgundy enamel ad set to the clasp with rose-cut and baguette-cut diamonds.

Inside is a mirror, an 18ct gold mechanical pencil and similar pencil.