Tunbridge Ware – Cotton Reel Box with Geometric Marquetry and Isometric Cube Pattern c1850

Description

Heading : Tunbridge Ware – Cotton Reel Box with Geometric Marquetry and Isometric Cube Pattern
Date : c1850
Period : Victorian
Origin : Tunbridge Wells
Decoration : An angular coffin-shaped box; isometric cube pattern to the top lid. surrounded by a five-square geometric pattern band within pairs of continuous keyline stringing; around all four faces of the body – a nine-square geometric pattern band within pairs of continuous and banded keyline stringing; all set within birds-eye maple; internally – a lift-out base with metal fitments to hold five cotton reels of varying size
Size : 16.3 x 6.6 x 5.3 cm
Condition : Excellent; looks as if two corners may have been re-laminated at some point. to no detrimental effect; some tiny scratches and just one or two missing tesserae
Restoration : None
Weight : 176 grams

Notes : Boxes of this style were made by Edmund Nye. and this also shares the same base lining paper which appears on several pieces by his prodigee Thomas Barton; it seems entirely reasonable to say that it dates from the period when the two were working together in the early 1850’s (the Pintos date an identical piece to around that same time. too. in their Tunbridge & Scottish Souvenir Woodware book). It’s interesting to note that – as a small item – it has a veneer of birds-eye maple. usually reserved for ‘premium’ pieces.