Tunbridge Ware Wedge Shaped Stationery Box c1860

Description

Heading : Tunbridge Ware – A Wedge Shaped Stationery Box
Date : c1860
Period : Victorian
Origin : Tunbridge Wells; England
Decoration : An abbreviated wedge-shape in section. with a curved lid; features floral mosaics to all four sides and the top – set within banded and continuous keyline stringing. with the main design featuring chrysanthemums set within a golden satinwood surround. Three sided of this main image also have a six-square geometric border and there is a five-square border around the flat sides of the lid; base lined with mottled black and green paper. Internally. there would have originally been four lateral dividers. but one of these has been lost and as a consequence another has been cut in half and rotated by 90 degrees to form three larger wells – a unique configuration; the inside of the lid is lined with original blue/grey satin and has a series of pen/pencil loops affixed; otherwise lined with an original blue and gold printed lining paper.
Size : 21.1 cm wide x 12.1 cm high x 14.0 cm deep
Condition : good; there are some carefully-filled losses to the satinwood reserve on the lid along with a lateral grain crack and another diagonal crack through the image. reserve and banded border; otherwise excellent externally other than a small indentation with a split to the veneer on the rear face. Internally. the satin is tired and rather grubby. and the lining paper worn in places. including a short piece to one edge which has been lost altogether; there are two vacant vertical grooves to each side where the dividers have been reconfigured. the box closes and locks securely. and there is a waxy deposit on the base
Restoration : Alterations to dividers as above
Weight :  485 grams

Note : The base paper used for this item marks it out as having been made – in all probability – by Henry Hollamby; this is also entirely consistent with the mosaic image. wool-work bands and geometric borders