Mirror on a stand, from a toilette service, 1683, William Fowle; Retailer: Fowle & Wotton, English, 1658-1684, 20 x 17 1/2 x 1 5/16 in. (50.8 x 44.45 x 3.33 cm), Silver, gilt, mirror glass, silk, horsehair, wood, England, 17th century, During the Baroque era, a lady and her lady-in-waiting could spend hours at the dressing table with soaps, creams, perfumes, brushes, pins, etc. This manner of ceremonial grooming originated in the French court, where the word 'toilette' developed from 'toile,' or cloth, which covered the table. As the ceremony grew more elaborate, so too did the dressing table service that housed these beauty secrets.