Tunbridge Ware Writing Box Depicting Bayham Abbey c1865

Description

Heading : Tunbridge Ware – A Writing Box – Inlaid Marquetry Image of Bayham Abbey 
Date : c1865
Period : Victorian
Origin : Tunbridge Wells. England
Decoration : A rectangular box of waisted profile and with a pillow-topped lid. The main decoration is Henry Hollamby’s depiction of Bayham Abbey. This is set in a small rosewood reserve and bounded by continuous and banded keyline stringing. which also encloses a floral wool-work frieze. The four concave sides of the box feature a similar. but less-wide. frieze and the same stringing. Internally the box features a lift-out tray which is divided in to five compartments. one of which has it’s own lid. backed with sandpaper; under this tray there is a single. deeper cavity. There is a separate section along one long side of the interior. with a two square compartments for ink bottles. and another. longer compartment which has a fitted wooden tray on low ledges. The small lid with the sandpaper has inlaid mosaic decoration and appropriately small turned handle. The interior is lined with marbled paper; the underside of the lid has clean. plush. bright red velvet affixed. with an impressed pattern around its edges. The form of the box is consistent with others made by Thomas Barton using Hollamby’s marquetry images. but – given the lack of green tesserae in the wool-work – it may well be the work of George Wise Junior; both manufacturers used the same double-hooked latches. one of which secures this example (although the key is missing).
Size : 26.9 cm wide – 21.7 cm deep – 7.7 cm high
Condition : Excellent; tiles virtually all intact and well-seated; there are some fine lateral cracks along the grain of the marquetry image and reserve: the back edge of the lid has warped a little which has pushed a crack along the boundary between the adjoining floral mosaic and its reserve although everything. again. is securely in place; there are a some superficial bumps and dings. but nothing of any significance; key is absent
Restoration : professionally cleaned and polished.
Weight :  1098 grams