Tunbridge Ware Games Box Image of Eridge Castle c1870

Description

Heading : Tunbridge Ware – A Games Box with Inlaid Marquetry Image of Eridge Castle
Date : c1870
Period : Victorian
Origin : Tunbridge Wells; England
Decoration : A rectangular box with a pillow-shaped lid and waisted sides; to the lid a marquetry image of Eridge Castle by Henry Hollamby. framed by a wide floral Berlin wool-work band and pairs of banded and continuous keyline stringing; to the concave sides. another wool-work frieze showing fruit and leaves with the same edging; framed base with smooth (original) red lining paper; to the inside. eight compartments. then middle two of which are underneath a purpose-made cribbage board. with a small wool-work panel. turned handle and wooden feet; the compartments are all lined with replacement paper; plain. raised escutcheon with a working key. We have included some dice and a pack of playing cards; inside of the lid lined with red satin.
Size :  26.9 x 21.7 x 8.1 cm
Condition : Excellent; one or two tile losses and a fissure across the lid wool-work band and to the foreground of the castle image. but everything is firmly seated; very minimal bumps and bruises to the body
Restoration : Relined as above; the marquetry surface of the box is very smooth and evenly lacquered as if it has been carefully sanded and re-finished
Weight : 996 grams

Notes : The marquetry image is another of Henry Hollamby’s productions; interestingly. the date at which it was first made can be gauged by the extent of the ivy growth on the round tower as it climbed over the six decades or so during which the images were produced – this is very much from the mid-range of dates. We tend to think that the restoration to the surface of this box make it appear less old than is actually the case; the framed base with it’s smooth paper infill hint that Mr Barton and the Boyce. Brown & Kemp manufactories were not involved. with the former not having used similar wool-work either. as far as we are aware. Hollamby’s did produce their own boxes and were. it is known. to be partial to both waisted sides and a raised escutcheon. given the opportunity. Sadly. though. this is another Eridge Castle image which does not include the fabled ‘cat up a flag pole’…