Tunbridge Ware – A Waisted Glove, Jewellery or Sewing Box c1860

Description

Heading : Tunbridge Ware – A Waisted Glove. Jewellery or Sewing Box – Floral Mosaic and Geometric Patterns 
Date : c1860
Period : Victorian
Origin : Tunbridge Wells. England
Decoration : A rectangular. waisted box with a pillow-style lid; the lid has a rectangular floral image set in to a light rosewood veneer. bounded by banded keyline stringing; the edge features a narrow five-square geometric pattern band within continuous keyline stringing; there is a broad foliate frieze around the four sides of the body. edged with pairs of banded and continuous keyline stringing; relined internally with marbled paper; original red lining paper to the base
Size : 24.6cm wide x 9.7 cm deep x 8.2 cm high
Condition : Excellent; as is often the case there are some stress fractures where the mosaics have been formed around the curved surfaces. but only very minimal tile loss; there are some losses from the banded keyline which forms the very bottom of the body. immediately above the veneered base frame; the key is not present
Restoration : minor repairs to two bottom corners; relining as above; the escutcheon has been replaced with a flush-fitting single coloured piece
Weight :  382 grams

Notes : Lockable boxes of this nature tend to have originally been jewellery or sewing boxes with internal compartments. but it cannot be said unequivocally that this is the case with this piece given that it has been relined (which will have hidden any sign of the dividers which may have one been in place); with regard to the source. the decoration. geometric border to the lid. dark background to the broad frieze – and even the paper on the base – are all consistent with something that came from the workshops of the Nye/Barton partnership – perhaps after the demise of the former and hence a little later than our stated date…