ANTIQUE BOXES
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Antique Boxes in English Society
1760 -1900
by ANTIGONE
Dressing Boxes
Dressing Boxes
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A Very High Quality Brass bound Coromandel Dressing Box circa 1857
A  very high quality  Coromandel Dressing box from the middle of the 19th century. 
For further information on the background see The Online Box Book.

It features solid silver  hallmarked silver toped bottles a removable  jewelry  drawer/ tray,  a lift out self standing mirror, rounded brass edgings and Bramah lock.

The box has a shellac finish and is overall in very good original condition. The condition has been preserved because the box still retains its original outer leather case.

English circa 1857.
The box is  14 inches wide 8 inches deep and 10 tall (when closed).

The box is in  figured Coromandel. This was one of the  highly prized of the imported cabinet makers woods in the late Regency/ Victorian period. 

There is a centrally placed lift out  fitted tray which has mother of pearl handled implements.

 

 The silver is decorated with stylized  flora.


 
The glass is cut with a fluted pattern on the sides and a  cut star to the base.

 

 

 

 

The Silver is of high quality and all hallmarked London 1857/8

To the very left is the "maker's" mark. The next punch is the "Queen's head". 
The next mark "Lion Passant"  denotes that this is silver of sterling standard. (925)
 The date letter "b" is next, and finally the "Leopard's head for London.

 

 

This is the entry  for London 1857/8 in English Goldsmiths and Their Marks by Sir Charles J. Jackson

 

The box is in  figured Coromandel. This was one of the  highly prized of the imported cabinet makers woods in the late Regency/ Victorian period. 

 

 

Detail of one of the corners. The brass  contrasts effectively with the rich colour of the coromandel.

 

The box features a patented Brahma lock. To engage the key is pushed into the lock. The sprung  levers of the lock are brought to the right positions by grooves cut in the barrel of the key rather than the flag.  This results in a very neat small key. 

The lock plate is stamped: "J.T.  NEEDS 100 New Bond Street, Late J Bramah."

 

The box has a lift out leather toped Jewelry tray.

This is spring loaded and released by pressing down on  a button near the hinge. 

The inside of the tray is fitted with leather and lined with silk.

 

For the historical context of this writing box read the relevant part of Antigone's Online Antique Box Book. If you click here you will go there.

We are preparing a highly illustrated book on Antique Boxes and Tea caddies for publication next year by Schiffer Books, USA. This box has been specially photographed for inclusion.

  © 2000 Antigone Clarke and Joseph O'Kelly