Heading : Tunbridge Ware - A Wedge Shaped Stationery Box
Date : c1860
Period : Victorian
Origin : Tunbridge Wells; England
Decoration : An abbreviated wedge-shape in section, with a curved lid; features floral mosaics to all four sides and the top - set within banded and continuous keyline stringing, with the main design featuring chrysanthemums set within a golden satinwood surround. Three sided of this main image also have a six-square geometric border and there is a five-square border around the flat sides of the lid; base lined with mottled black and green paper. Internally, there would have originally been four lateral dividers, but one of these has been lost and as a consequence another has been cut in half and rotated by 90 degrees to form three larger wells - a unique configuration; the inside of the lid is lined with original blue/grey satin and has a series of pen/pencil loops affixed; otherwise lined with an original blue and gold printed lining paper.
Size : 21.1 cm wide x 12.1 cm high x 14.0 cm deep
Condition : good; there are some carefully-filled losses to the satinwood reserve on the lid along with a lateral grain crack and another diagonal crack through the image, reserve and banded border; otherwise excellent externally other than a small indentation with a split to the veneer on the rear face. Internally, the satin is tired and rather grubby, and the lining paper worn in places, including a short piece to one edge which has been lost altogether; there are two vacant vertical grooves to each side where the dividers have been reconfigured. the box closes and locks securely, and there is a waxy deposit on the base
Restoration : Alterations to dividers as above
Weight :  485 grams

Note : The base paper used for this item marks it out as having been made - in all probability - by Henry Hollamby; this is also entirely consistent with the mosaic image, wool-work bands and geometric borders

 

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Code:         22092004