For the twenty-first century collector of aesthetic goods, seeking to achieve the ideal of "The House Beautiful," this dresser set is almost too good to be true. While aesthetic toilette sets are very much obtainable; this is the first English dresser set in the style we have encountered--an unprecedented opportunity to carry the Japanesque tradition into the boudoir.

Allerton covers every surface of the set items with a Japanese inspired sheet pattern, which is best observed on the lobed tray. Against a ground of hexagon motifs,  densely packed honeycomb style, we find scattered blossoms and foliage and variously shaped reserves featuring more florals, cranes, ducks, butterflies and even a playful Japanese tyke. Printing is in deep blue with just the slightest hint of "flow." Rather than confine this patterned field with a formal border, Allerton's designers merely added a gilt stripe edging.

The set consists of the lobed tray, a stoppered perfume bottle, a ring stand, an oval pin tray, and two sizes of pomade or rouge pots. It is lots of fun trying out different arrangements of the elements.

Given the number of pieces and the functional nature of the set, we think the condition is extraordinary. Use by a generation or more of ladies has left significant gilt wear. Given the nature of the dense pattern, this is barely noticed. The ring stand has lost one prong and there is some well disguised touch-up to the collar of the perfume.

Considering the loose way attributions to Dr. Christopher Dresser are tossed around in aesthetic design circles, we are almost reluctant to refer to this as a "dresser set." Please note the lower-case "d."