Fine Silver Gilt & Red Guilloche Enamel Compact

A very fine continental art deco silver gilt compact with spectacular red guilloche enamel cover and engine turned engraving to the side walls and base with further fine detailing to the external hinges and cover edge. Unusual and high quality spring opening mechanism; the shaped thumb piece at the front, hinged at the base, is pulled forward and the cover springs fully open with the thumb piece returning automatically to its original position. Inside is a hinged cover for the powder compartment, space for a small lipstick and a mirror set in the lid within an ornate frame. Full UK import marks for London 1930, and import agent Hc Freeman Ltd. to the main body. London import marks to the mirror frame, hinged thumb piece and the powder cover and a further French control swan mark to the edge of this inner cover to determine the piece was imported into France from an unknown country. Probably Austrian in origin. Provenance: The Lady Elizabeth Shakerley Collection.