In the early 19th century, Jean-Baptiste-Claude Odiot, Napoleon’s official silversmith and one of the great masters of French Empire style, created an extraordinary 18-piece silver-gilt nécessaire de voyage. This traveling dressing service stands as a testament to Odiot’s artistry — technical brilliance fused with refined aesthetics.

The monumental rosewood case, inlaid with brass and crowned by a noble coronet, opens to reveal a world of elegance: a grand melon-fluted ewer and basin, gilt-mounted scent bottles, soap boxes, hot-water jug, mirror and a host of refined implements. Ingeniously, Odiot concealed drawers with four secret locked compartments, a marvel of design that combined practicality, luxury, and discretion.

Lady Deerhurst’s Bequest

The dressing case was treasured by Harriet Anne Cockerell, Viscountess Deerhurst. In her will of 1842, written when her son was just three years old, she bequeathed to him not only jewels and portraits but also “the large dressing box with all and singular its ornamental and other contents”, charging him never to part with it. This solemn injunction transformed the nécessaire into a sacred family heirloom, a vessel of memory linking mother, father, and son.

In 1843, the child inherited the title of 9th Earl of Coventry, and two decades later, on the eve of his marriage, the service once again became the symbol of a new beginning.

A Wedding Gift of Splendour

In January 1865, the dressing case was presented to Lady Blanche Craven, bride of the 9th Earl. Society pages marvelled at the grandeur of the gift, reporting in the Sporting Gazette that it was a magnificent “dressing-case of great size, an heir-loom of the Coventry family, remarkable for the value and beauty of the settings, which are of solid gold.” The journalist, dazzled by its heavy gilding, mistook Odiot’s rich silver-gilt for solid gold—a telling testament to its brilliance.

The Hidden Letter

Nearly a century later, in 1954, Aberdeen dealer John Bell made a startling discovery. Tucked inside one of the case’s secret compartments was an anonymous letter, posted just days after the wedding in February 1865. Addressed to Lady Blanche, it claimed that the Earl was already married and father to children by another woman.

The scandalous allegation proved untrue—no trace of such a marriage has ever been found. Yet the letter remains a tantalising fragment of history, one that adds an air of intrigue to this already extraordinary service.

Market Recognition

The Coventry Nécéssaire has passed through prestigious international collections:

Christie’s London, “The Collector” sale (31 Oct 2023)
M.S. Rau, New Orleans (1stDibs)

Its combination of exceptional craftsmanship, aristocratic provenance, and documented intrigue enhances both its cultural and market value.

Jean-Baptiste-Claude Odiot

Born in 1763, Jean-Baptiste-Claude Odiot inherited the family workshop and rose to prominence during the Napoleonic era. By 1809, he had acquired the models of Henry Auguste, Napoleon’s bankrupt silversmith, and quickly became the Emperor’s official supplier.

Odiot’s masterpieces included the sword and sceptre for Napoleon’s coronation, services for Madame Mère, Count Demidoff, and Countess Branicki, as well as royal commissions from the King of Bavaria and the King of Rome. His lavish necessaires de voyage—of which the Deerhurst/Coventry service is a magnificent example—were prized for their ingenious design, sumptuous decoration, and prestige.

A Testament to Odiot’s Legacy

For investors and collectors alike, this masterpiece illustrates the resilience of Odiot’s heritage. More than two centuries later, the house’s creations remain desirable, rare, and historically significant, offering both cultural prestige and long-term value preservation.

An Odiot Treasure: The silver-gilt nécéssaire de voyage and a hidden love story