Tunbridge Ware – A Robert Vorley Butterfly Box – 1979

Description

Heading : Tunbridge Ware – A Robert Vorley Butterfly Box – 1979
Date : 1979
Period : 20th century modern
Origin : Laindon or Canvey Island; England

Decoration : Rectangular box with a curved and square-ended lid. featuring a very finely made butterfly in the traditional mosaic style. set within banded and continuous key-lines. and broader concentric plain borders; plain sides; lined with printed fabric internally  and marbled paper to the base; signed and dated by the maker.
Size : 12.0 x 10.9 x 7.3 cm
Condition : Excellent; some tiny fleabite nicks to one edge. otherwise perfect
Restoration : none
Weight :  286 grams

Note : Robert Vorley is far and away the most accomplished and successful of those who have attempted to replicate Tunbridge Ware in the modern era. maintaining production throughout the 1980’s. An architectural model-maker by trade. Vorley’s meticulous nature leant itself to the creation of intricate marquetry images. and coupled with his ability to harness contemporary production machinery. he was able to produce some very high-grade pieces indeed. amongst which this butterfly box can be numbered. Our only (very guarded) criticism is that ‘traditional’ paper labels in addition to the pen and ink signature would have made for a touch more authenticity…

We are fortunate enough to have recently been contacted by Mr Vorley. and in the course of the conversation he pointed out that the butterfly is a ‘painted lady’ and is made entirely of end-grain veneer pieces. unlike the original makers who used a combination of end-grain and strip veneers to create their miniature masterpieces. He also advised that this particular piece was made during the early. formative years of his Tunbridge Ware ‘career’. which makes the quality of the execution all the more remarkable.