Description:
A Regency penwork box decorated with chinoiserie scenes with tapered sides standing on gilt embossed brass feet and having drop ring handles to the sides. Inside there is a replacement velvet lined tray making the box suitable for jewlery and nick knacks.

Origin: UK

Circa: 1820.

Materials: Maple and gilt brass mounts

Size:  29.5cm wide by 21.8cm by 14.4cm:  9.5 inches wide by  8.6inches by 5.7 inches.

Condition: overall good but some rubbing to the decoration. working lock and key

"Penwork" is sometimes referred to as "pen and ink".

The decoration has similarity to the decoration of a tea caddy of the same period. See: www.hygra.com/tc2/tcpendisfam.htm

This box is featured in our book (figure 49 page 31) Antique Boxes, Tea Caddies, and Society, 1700--1880 
Antigone Clarke & Joseph O'Kelly, ISBN: 0764316885

 The box is decorated all over with penwork with scenes of idealized Indian life featuring figures in gardens with lute playing musicians.

Detail of one of the embossed brass feet which still retains some of its original gilding.

 The handles are an especially striking design of a star shape made up of alternate bunches of grapes and vine leaves.

Inside there is a replacement velvet lined tray making the box suitable for jewelry and nick knacks.

Detail of the top penwork decoration The scenes are particularly whimsical and are and inspire all sorts of captions.