Vanity Accessories - General

The tradition of grooming oneself before a mirror is as old as human civilization itself. The ancient Greek myth of Narcissus, who caught sight of his reflection in a pool and instantly fell in love with himself, is still widely circulated today as a reminder of human vanity and the value we place on physical appearance.

In ancient Egypt, royalty and wealthy nobles used mirrors to adjust their wigs and apply eye kohl, rouge, and aromatic oils. These and other vanity accessories were buried with their owners in magnificent underground tombs, suggesting their importance as status markers in the afterlife. The use of mirrors, combs, makeup, and other grooming accouterments evolved throughout the 18th century, when European women conducted elaborate morning rituals involving powdered wigs, face powder, rouge, hair accessories, and jewelry. Men also used vanity accessories during this period, adorning their heads with powdered wigs and gazing into mirrors to adjust their trousers to display their calf muscles, a trend begun by King Louis XIV of France.

Today, vanity accessories are essential to almost everyone’s morning routine. Using an assortment of products, consumers act as artists, fashioning their identities and presenting their individual personalities and styles to the world. Brushes, perfume bottles, handheld mirrors, powder boxes, manicure sets, bath products, and countless other vanity accessories are sold at auction.