Tunbridge Ware Sewing Box with Isometric Cube Design c1835

Description

Heading : Tunbridge Ware – A Sarcophagal Sewing Box with Isometric Cube Design c1835
Date : c1835
Period : William IV – Victoria
Origin : Tunbridge Wells; England
Decoration : to the lid – a small panel of isometric cubes featuring palmeira. coromandel. birds-eye maple and other veneers bounded with geometric miniature mosaic. the canted edges of the lid featuring the same. with banded keyline stringing to both. A wider  mosaic band to all four sides of the rosewood body. again with keyline borders; a diamond shaped. flush fitted bone escutcheon around the keyhole; angles sides to the base. the whole sitting on four flattened bun feet; internally. a lift-out tray seated on ledged edges over the main void; the tray has sixteen compartments (with one divider missing. so should have seventeen); two of these have lift out lids with padded pin cushions affixed. one with a stitched tool-band; one box-based pin cushion. and a shaped thimble-holder; includes two small yarn cards; original rouched satin lining to the inside of the lid; replacement paper to the base; working lock and key
Size : 11.1 cm high – 21.9 cm wide – 16.6 cm deep
Condition : Excellent; a little crazing to the lacquer in places; one missing divider as above. wear to the lining paper where it wraps over the edges of the compartments
Restoration : re-lined base as above
Weight :  866 grams

Note : The use of a variety of very small. very finely grained tesserae to make up the mosaics is a signature of work produced by Humphrey Burrows. as noted by Margaret Gill and Brian Austen in their respective books.