Description:
JB526:  Antique coromandel, brass-edged and accented box with secure Bramah lock: the box has a compartmentalized interior with leather covered lift out tray,  a button released drawer of dovetail construction fitted for jewelry,  with its own  hinged lid lined in padded silk. There is a mirror and document wallet in the lid.  Circa 1870.

Origin:  UK; Circa: 1870; Materials: coromandel mahogany, brass steel silk leather, gold.

Size: 31 cm wide by 22.5 cm by 18.2 cm:  12.2 inches wide by  8.9  inches by  7.2 inches.

Condition: see pictures: Good overall some veneer  cracking which does not effect the structure; working lock with key.

Please click on images to enlarge

Detail: with leather covered lift out tray, sprung, button released drawer of dovetail construction fitted for jewelry,  with hinged lid lined in padded silk

Detail: brass edged and accented

 There is continuous brass hinge with special stops let into the facings to enable the lid to remain open in display.

The lid holds a gold and blind  embossed blue leather framed  mirror. The other side is padded ruched blue velvet. 

Behind this there is a document wallet made of embossed leather. This is lined in canary yellow silk.

 

with leather covered lift out tray, sprung, button released drawer of dovetail construction fitted for jewelry,  with hinged lid lined in padded silk

The lid holds a gold and blind  embossed blue leather framed  mirror. The other side is padded ruched blue velvet. 

 Behind the mirror, there is a document wallet made of embossed leather. This is lined in canary yellow silk.

detail of the gold embossing

 The drawer is of dovetail construction. It is made from quartered  mahogany  and faced with coromandel. The runners are made from rosewood.  The wood is carefully selected for quality and stability. 

The drawer is released by pressing the button on the facing.

 The lid holds a gold and blind  embossed blue leather framed  mirror. The other side is padded ruched blue velvet. 

 There is continuous brass hinge with special stops let into the facings to enable the lid to remain open in display.

The patented Brahma lock was used on high quality boxes. 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 128 Picadilly Late J. Bramah 124 Picadilly. 

J.T. Needs held Royal Warrants from Queen Victoria and King Edward VII.  

Bramah’s business was acquired by J. T. Needs & Co in 1871.

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