A small ornamental case for pencils, scissors, tweezers, and other small items.
化妆用品匣
Example sentencesExamples
Two multi-colored gold and mother-of-pearl rococo nécessaires, each fitted with gold sewing implements in the rim and in a gold-mounted mother-of-pearl tray, the cover of one featuring a courting couple, of the other, a pastoral couple.
This nécessaire is typical of Cox's work and incorporates standardised and mass-produced elements; the gold cage-work is constructed from bands produced in strips and cut to measure.
Pocket nécessaires contain miniscule reproductions of a portable toilette, where flasks, funnels, ear-cleaners, tongue scratches, and ivory tablets to contain sweet messages, fit neatly into their tiny compartments.
Origin
Early 19th century: French, literally 'necessary (thing)'.