Tunbridge Ware Boxes and Curios.
The sheer variety of both useful and decorative items made of Tunbridge Ware together with those already mentioned is quite extensive and testament to the continuing demand and popularity from such makers as Edmund Nye, Fenner and Co of Mount Ephraim, Thomas Barton and George and James Burrows.
Such output included sewing accessories such as pin boxes of small square, circular and cog form. ‘Go to beds’ lighting devices were most popular and took the form of small cylindrical boxes that housed small taper candles that were inserted into a central sconce integral with the cover, whilst the option remained for equally diminutive chamberstick.
Rulers, napkin rings, spectacle cases photograph frames, picture frames, etuis, card cases, string boxes and watch stands are typical of the just a few of small scale household items on offer. At the other end of the scale both Edmund Nye and Fenner and Co offered prestige pieces such as full scale circular tea tables and side tables , including a games table made by the latter for Prince Albert ,now to be found in Kensington Palace.
Work tables were of conventional form albeit a Sewing Casket raised upon an ornamented pedestal and concaved platform base supported upon four pad feet. Examples exhibiting superb craftsmanship ,with integral mosaic work encompassing many thousands of precision cut pieces, can be seen in Tunbridge Wells Museum.
