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Description:

Ref: 638SB
Delightful Regency fitted sewing box decorated with erudite Chinoiserie images  opening to a  compartmentalized lift out tray .  The  artist who painted the box seems to have an understanding of the symbolism and  style of Chinese Export lacquer. On the  convex sides are depictions of feathery willows. The raised painting on the top depicts figures in a garden. The  box has embossed gilded pressed brass drop ring handles and ball feet.  These are typical of the Regency , Circa 1815.

Origin: UK ;  Circa: 1815 ; Materials: .

Size: 26.5 cm wide by 21 cm by 13.5 cm:  10.4  inches wide by  8.3  inches by 5.3  inches.

Condition: good overall; working lock and key; see images.

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The box opens to a compartmentalized lift out tray .

Around the curved sides there are depictions of whispery willows.

In Chinese culture  the willow is "LIU"

The willow, much valued as firewood, is a symbol of —» spring. As spring is the season of erotic awakenings, the phrase 'willow feel­ings and flower wishes' means sexual desire; 'looking for flowers and buying willows' means visiting a prostitute, 'flowers and willows by the wayside' are prostitutes, and 'sleeping among flowers and reposing beneath willows' is a term for visiting a brothel.

The waist of a —» beautiful woman is compared to the willow, her —> eyebrows to the curve of willow   leaves. A young girl is a 'tender willow and fresh —» flower' while a woman who can no longer claim virginal freshness is described as 'faded willow and withered flower'. A woman's pubic hair is 'in the depths of willow shade'.

Furthermore, the willow repels demons. In one novel, 49 children armed with willow twigs score a victory over —> ghosts. At the Qing-ming festival, held on the 105th day after the winter solstice, willow twigs were worn, or one put a willow wreath round one's head. There was a current saying, to the effect that if you failed to wear willow in some shape or form on this feast-day, you would be reborn next time round as a yellow dog.

In ancient China it was customary to give someone who was going away twigs broken from a willow-tree. Thus, a scholar who was being moved to a post in the provinces would receive such twigs from women and friends assembled at the east gate of the capital city.

See: A DICTIONARY OF CHINESE SYMBOLS
Hidden Symbols in Chinese Life and Thought ; 
WOLFRAM EBERHARD   ISBN 0-415-00228-1

The gilded embossed brass drop ring handles are of classical inspiration and typical  of Regency style.

The top  depicts figures in a garden.  Some of the detail is raised giving a three dimensional effect.  The technique was well described in Treatise of Japanning and Varnishing. by  Stalker and Parker, which was published  in the 17th Century. 

See: http://hygra.com/uk/sb/SB425/index.htm#pic06 

The tray is covered in its original paper