Reference: Sb108

Description:
Victorian fully fitted coromandel sewing box of architectural shape inlaid with mother of pearl abalone and metal, with turned handles and feet.   
Inside there is a fitted tray with a set of six carved and turned mother of pearl sewing sewing spools and mother of pearl handled tools.

Origin: UK

Circa: 1845

Materials: Coromandel mother of pearl and silk

Size: It measures 12 inches wide  by  9 inches deep and it is  7 inches  high including the feet: 30.5 cm wide by 23 cm deep by 17.7 cm high.

Condition: Good overall working lock and key.

 

The coromandel which is a sort of ebony  and has all the hardness is saw cut. The wood is too brittle to be knife cut, which made a thin veneer which is much easier to use.

The composition in expensive hardwoods was meant to convey a sense of quality and luxury. 

The box is inlaid to the top and front with stylized floral displays impeccably executed  in metal, mother of pearl, and abalone.

Front view

Detail of the inlay. The flour elements are given extra depth and dimension by using the contrast between the abalone shell and the lighter colored mother of pearl. The inlay is made of separate pieces of mother of pearl and metal which are inlayed separately inlaid.  

 Inside there is a lift out tray which is covered with purple silk. The box has a set of six matching mother of pearl spools and other associated mother of pearl handled  sewing tools. The lid of the box has a document wallet. 

A

The mother of pearl tops of the spools are both turned and carved. The metal cores are made to come apart so that thread spools could be quickly inserted. Earlier spools had to be wound with the thread. 

 There is a document wallet in the lid. The front is covered with purple silk.

 The feet are solid ebony and are turned and carved.

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