A Tunbridge Ware Velvet-Lined Jewellery & Ring Box by Thomas Barton c1875

Description

Heading : A Tunbridge Ware Velvet-Lined Jewellery & Ring Box by Thomas Barton c1875
Date : c1875
Period : Victorian
Origin : England; Tunbridge Wells; labelled for Thomas Barton late Nye
Decoration :  Rectangular panel to lid with wool-work rose motif set in to satinwood and surrounded by two continuous keylines; further bounded by a five-square geometric-pattern band within single banded keylines; to the four flat sides – below a hinged lid – a fifteen-square geometric/floral-pattern band set within two pairs of banded and continuous keys; rosewood veneers; internally. fine deep purple velvet lining to both parts. with the bottom well including a ring-holder parallel to the front edge; 
Size :  14.1 cm wide x 8.6cm deep x 4.4cm high
Condition : Excellent; just one or two missing tesserae and some superficial bumps and bruises to the body; the geometric band to the top lid has taken a bump or two. but all the tesserae are intact – perhaps rather inexpertly re-lacquered some time ago; internally the velvet is plush. with the exception of one edge of the ring-holding channel which is somewhat worn.
Restoration : none
Weight : 192 grams

Notes : This is a very nice little box. and a grand example of Barton’s work as it contains a profusion of green oak tesserae to several different colours; the label places it squarely in the period between 1863 and 1891 when Barton’s work on the Pantiles (aka the Parade) came to an end