Arts & Crafts Brass ‘Cash Box’ With Blue Roundels c1900

Description

Heading : Arts & Crafts Copper ‘Cash Box’ c 1890
Date : Late 19th century
Period : Victoria- Edward VII
Origin : England
Decoration : A substantial rectangular box with an elaborate latch. applied decorative panels and two large enamel ruskin roundels
Size :  Height 6.8 cm. 21.7 cm wide and 12.4cm deep
Condition : Very good; a few minimal dings entirely commensurate with age
Restoration : None
Weight :  687 grams 

Notes : This is something of a mystery; most other boxes of this type – sharing similar Jones and Ruskin features – sit on abbreviated legs or small feet. whereas ours does not. Not only is it intended to sit flush on a flat surface. but there are two holes in the base. which suggest that it may have been fixed in position; the top lifts up. and the ‘front’ face folds down – both on piano hinges; internally. there is a narrow pocket affixed to the inside of the lid. We have surmised that it may be a shop cash-box. mounted to a desk or counter to prevent theft; if there were a hook or eye fitted below the lock on the edge of the counter. the lid could have been securely fastened shut by a padlock or similar device. Folded notes – of which there would have been very few – could have been tucked in to the pocket. and coins easily scooped out at the end of the day by way of the unfolded front; unfortunately. this is pure speculation on our part. and the practicalities of having to open the box after every single transaction rather than it having slots through which coins and notes could have been more easily pushed does – perhaps – mitigate against the veracity of this supposition…