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Description:

JB624:  http://www.hygra.com/uk/n11/JB624

Antique brass edged box veneered in strongly figured coromandel, by HALSTAFF & HANNAFORD, London. The box has brass edging, central inlaid and engraved brass plaque, countersunk brass carrying handles, and a working Bramah lock with key. The compartmentalized interior of the box is also of very high quality. It is lined in velvet and embossed leather and has a lift-out tray. There is a document wallet in the lid. Circa 1860.

Origin: UK,  HALSTAFF & HANNAFORD, London.  Circa: 1860; Materials: .

Size: 35.7 cm wide by 25.5 cm by 16.7 cm: 14  inches wide by  10  inches by  6.6 inches.

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

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The  lock-plate is stamped with a crown and J. BRAMAH, 124 Piccadilly.

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.

The box is labeled  on the document wallet:

"HALSTAFF & HANNAFORD
Manufacturers
228 Regent St. London.

"Halstaff, Manufacturers, 228 Regent Street. Late of Margaret St."

HALSTAFF AND HANNAFORD: Manufacturers 228 Regent St . Another firm straddling the time between the Regency and the time of Victoria , making exceptional quality glamorous boxes. Emphasis on strengthening with brass corners, brass surrounds.

See: pages 255, 294 Antique Boxes, Tea Caddies, and Society, 1700--1880
Antigone Clarke & Joseph O'Kelly, ISBN: 0764316885.

Other examples of a  boxes with a Halstaff label are: http://hygra.com/dressing/index.html

http://hygra.com/uk/sb/SB432/index.htm#pic01 

 

There is a letter in the Pitt-Rivers collection which gives some more information about the firm: The letter head reads:

"Halstaff & Hannaford | 228 Regent Street | Dealers and Importers of fine Japanese & other foreign goods, porcelain, lacquer, ivory carving, enamels, metals etc. | Established 1825 | July 31 1895"

Source: Rethinking Pitt-Rivers | Dealers Correspondence A-J

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.

I have not been able to find any information on the name engraved in the brass plate inlaid in the centre of the top: "Mary G. Shapler"

A

The compartmentalized interior of the box is  of very high quality. It is lined in velvet and embossed leather and has a lift-out tray. 

There is a document wallet in the lid.

A curious feature is that the box seems to have been constructed wit the intention of having a drawer.  The panel of wood which would have been the drawer front is visible. There is no evidence on the inside of the box.