Tunbridge Ware – A Book Rest Featuring Two Different Floral Mosaics – c1850

Description

Heading : Tunbridge Ware – A Book Rest Featuring Two Different Floral Mosaics 
Date : c 1850
Period : Victorian
Origin : England; Tunbridge Wells
Decoration : Veneered with golden satinwood reserves to the ‘front’ face within a broad-grained probably walnut veneer surround; two mosaic images set in to the satinwood – different floral and foliate designs; bounded by a combination of a narrow floral frieze along with banded and continuous key-lines; the images sit above the sculpted book-shelf. which – in common with the top and both side edges of the panels – is decorated with a five-square geometric pattern within continuous keys; there are two metal retaining fingers fitted to the front edge of the shelf; to the reverse. both parts of the original stand are firmly affixed and in good condition.
Size : 24.1 x 25.7 x 20.9 cm (last dimension being from the front to the fear of the full extended stand)
Condition : Excellent; very few missing tesserae. some fine grain-splits to the satinwood reserves and some very slight losses to the veneers in places
Restoration : None
Weight : 411 grams 

Notes : This book rest is a good example of the collaborative nature of Tunbridge Ware production; the general form is identical to another example we have consigned which featured a topographic mosaic and the kilted Prince of Wales. both of which were produced by Henry Hollamby; this example. however. contains floral and foliate mosaics which are the work of Edmund Nye (having also appeared on a labelled book-slide we have seen from his manufactory); Hollamby also produced – wholesale – the narrow geometric borders used around the dges. For good measure the inclusion of green oak tesserae in the central images would indicate that Thomas Barton had a hand in their production. whilst he was working for Nye.