Early Tunbridge Ware Sarcophagus-style Jewellery Box with Perspective Cube And Van Dyke Patterns c 1825

Description

Heading : Early Tunbridge Ware – A Sarcophagus-style Jewellery Box with Perspective Cube And Van Dyke Patterns c 1825
Date : c 1825
Period : Regency
Origin : Tunbridge Wells. England
Decoration : Decoration to the top of the hinged lid only. with perspective cubes inside three continuous keylines. surrounded by equilateral Van Dyke patterning which is again bounded by the three continuous keylines; the keyhole has a diamond-shaped escutcheon made from natural material. and the whole sits on four. round metal feet. The patterned part of the lid is a trapezoidal prism with four sloping edges; the cubes to the flat. uppermost surface and the Van Dykes to the four canted edges; this sits on a plain. curved section. then the body which has four curved sides. The decorative veneers are made from a selection of relatively pale woods – satinwood. some maple. laburnum. burred walnut. with a few darker rosewood inclusions.
Size : 17.2 cm wide x 9.8 cm deep x 7.1 cm high
Condition : Very good; the base and un-patterned parts of the body are relatively undamaged with just minor bumps and bruises; the feet are attached to a rectangular frame. which is a little warped and means that the box does not sit 100% square on a flat surface; the perspective cubes are in excellent condition with just a few minor grain-separations and slightly imperfect joins; some of the Van Dykes have warped a little and lifted very slightly away from the base wood to their edges; there’s a 5mm loss to one of the keyline pieces. and a narrow. 16mm gap between one of the triangles and the border; all of the above imperfections are stable
Restoration : The original blue velvet lining (of which there are small traces in situ) has been replaced – some time ago – by green silk; in itself. this replacement has split along some of its folds.
Weight :  276 grams

Notes: This is an interesting. early example of a Tunbridge Ware box with several distinctive elements; it shares a number of these with another – larger – sewing box. which we had dated by the resident expert at our local museum; it would seem more than reasonable. therefore. to assert that this piece is of a similar vintage. and rapidly approaching its 200th birthday.