A Tunbridge Ware Sewing Box with Bird Motif c1870

Description

Heading : A Tunbridge Ware Sewing Box with Bird motif.
Date : c1870
Period : Victoria
Origin : Tunbridge Wells. Kent
Decoration : Flat central lid panel with mosaic image of a bird perching on a fruit and flower laden branch. bounded by two continuous and banded keylines; there are four flat. trapezoid side panels set at an angle to create a bevelled lid. which are plain both to their upper surfaces and their sqaure sides; the four side faces have simple rectangular frames of diagonal banding. featuring coromandel highlights and continuous keylines; the keyhole is within a plain. shield-shaped flat escutcheon. The body cavity has pillared corners. on which sits a tray with ten compartments; one of the short dividers is missing from one compartment; there is a snug-fitting pin cushion to the central space – possibly original. though very worn; the lid is lined with blue velvet and has a glided metal ‘frame’ fitted which bears a pierced foliate pattern to the sides. between extravagant corner pieces.
Size :  29.1 cm wide x 19.4 cm deep x 16.7 cm high
Condition : Good; the bird motif is complete. and there is just one damaged tile to the side-panel borders. There are bumps to the corners and grain-splits (all of which are stablised) to the short edge of the lid and both short edges of the base; on three of the four side panels. the diagonal band is set within a single piece of base wood. and it must have been the case that this applied to all four edges when the piece was made; however. it appears that on one short side the original centre-piece has been lost and replaced with a piece of non-matching golden satinwood;
Restoration : The box has been professionally cleaned and polished; replacement panel and border as above
Weight :  1838 grams