Tunbridge Ware – A Very Fine Octagonal Work Box by Edmund Nye c1850

Description

Heading : Tunbridge Ware – A Very Fine Octagonal Work Box by Edmund Nye
Date : c 1850
Period : Victorian
Origin : Tunbridge Wells; England
Decoration : The box lid features an overall isometric cube parquetry image. extending from edge to edge; it is constructed from some very unusual veneer sections. with a mixture of burred. knotted and fine-grained woods. some which have been marked by disease along with palmyra and very dark rosewood; the sides of the lower part feature a band of geometric mosaic within continuous and banded key-line stringing to all eight faces. Internally. there are nine compartments. four triangular and five rectangular; all of these are paper-lined – as is the lid – with a cerise paper; marbled paper to the base; working lock and key
Size : 27.1 cm wide x 21.1 cm deep x 5.8cm high
Condition : Excellent; there are some shrinkage cracks to the lid. between the individual elements and along the grain in places. and the surface is a little uneven where tiles have warped. but everything is in place and firmly affixed; there are some filled gaps to the corners of the geometric banding around the sides. and the veneers are mis-shaped in a couple of places. but are still firmly in place; on another example we have seen there are lift-out lids to some of the internal compartments. but there are no ledges or corner posts to suggest that there were any similar inserts to this example (which is also consistent with other seen versions); the internal lining paper is unlikely to be original. but the marble paper to the base may well be
Restoration : Possible replacement internal lining paper at some point; minor filling to corner-gaps on sides (again. not modern)
Weight :  704 grams

Notes : There are enough consistencies between this piece. other readily-attributable though unlabelled examples and one labelled version which we have seen to be able to say that this is the work of Edmund Nye with as close to absolute certainty as is possible. This includes the basic design features. the nature of the geometric band and the distinctive tiles used in the isometric cubes. many of which are ‘chips off the same block’ as used on other labelled wares.