12-piece Toilet Service
Overall (pomade pots): 7 x 5 x 5 cm (2 3/4 x 1 15/16 x 1 15/16 in.)
Overall (mirror): 73.5 x 45 cm (28 15/16 x 17 11/16 in.)
Overall (casket): 27.5 x 21 x 8 cm (10 13/16 x 8 1/4 x 3 1/8 in.)
Overall (boxes): 14 x 14 x 7.5 cm (5 1/2 x 5 1/2 x 2 15/16 in.)
Overall (small boxes): 9.3 x 9.3 x 4.2 cm (3 11/16 x 3 11/16 x 1 5/8 in.)
Overall (pin cushion): 20 x 15 x 4 cm (7 7/8 x 5 7/8 x 1 9/16 in.)
Overall (brush): 14 x 14 x 7.5 cm (5 1/2 x 5 1/2 x 2 15/16 in.)
This toilet service, one of the earliest and most complete English silver sets known, was apparently made for Elizabeth, the second wife of Sir John Moreton, baronet, of Milbourne St. Andrews, Dorset. Traditionally a woman received a toilet service as part of her trousseau or dowry when she married.
An emblem of status, a silver service stood at the focal point of the aristocratic bedroom, where the toilet took place. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the morning toilet was an elaborate social ritual, lasting two or three hours and attended by guests of both sexes. Assisted by hairdressers, tailors, and valets, the nobleman and woman washed their face and hands, had their hair arranged and powdered, applied cosmetics and perfumes, and dressed. The various boxes of the service contained scented creams, wig and face powder, rouge, jewelry, pins, and gloves.
NOTES:
[1] The service descended to Anne Morton's granddaughter, Louisa; to her son, John Mansell (Pleydell); and then to his granddaughter, Mrs. Foster. [2] The two salvers comprised by this service (MFA accession nos. 2002.27.1-2) passed out of the family's possession at an unkown date. They belonged to the dealer How of Edinburgh, and were sold June 10, 1993, through Sotheby's, London, before being acquired by the Whiteley Trust. [3] The service was first lent to the MFA in 1997.