Sewing box 

jewelry-boxes

tea caddies

Anglo-Indian

Chinese- export

penwork

Tunbridgeware

papier-mâché

Snuff boxes 

terms

Advanced Search

Youtube Channel

contents

Description:
Ref: 739JB http://hygra.com/box/739JB/

A large mahogany and satinwood box of elegant proportions cross-banded in kingwood, which 
is defined by fine stringing in boxwood and ebony. It has its original compartmented wooden 
tray. It bears the label of Michael Butler of Dublin. This firm made furniture and also 
dealt in antiques. 

This is a difficult box to date. In all appearances it looks as if it dates from 
1790. However the finish is of a later date. As the firm of Butler made bespoke copies of 
18th century furniture in the late 19th century, it is possible that this box, which has 
all the characteristics and quality of an 18th century box, is a 19th century copy. It is 
also possible that it was bought as an antique and restored in the late 19th century by the 
firm. 

Origin: Ireland;  Circa: 19th C.

Size:  35.5cm wide by 21.2cm by 14 cm:  14 inches wide by  8.5 inches by  5.5 inches.

Condition: good overall; small repair to top veneer (see picture) and slight “smile”. working lock and key; see images

Request current  list of available sewing boxes with prices.
Request current  list of available writing boxes with prices.
Request current  list of available jewelry boxes with prices.
Request current  list of available tea caddies with prices.

boxes@hygra.com

The front has a central panel of flame mahogany framed with alternate satinwood and ebony.

The box  has its original compartmented wooden 
tray of mahogany construction. The facings are satinwood.

Some of the compartments have supplementary  lids with turned bone pulls. 

The bottoms of the compartments have been lined with velvet making the box ideal for jewelry. 

Overview which shows how well the light and darker woods are combined to create a box which 
looks simple, but is in fact constructed with time consuming care in the complexity of the 
framing of every panel. It has the quiet elegance of the neoclassical period of the late 
18th century. The proportions are perfect, the decoration subtle, the choice of timbers 
well thought out.

 The top has a central panel of rosewood framed with satinwood and ebony lines within a larger panel of satinwood which is in turn framed with a cross-banding of kingwood.

Detail which shows how well the light and darker woods are combined to create a box which 
looks simple, but is in fact constructed with time consuming care in the complexity of the 
framing of every panel. It has the quiet elegance of the neoclassical period of the late 
18th century. The proportions are perfect, the decoration subtle, the choice of timbers 
well thought out.

 The sides  and back have panels of flame mahogany framed with contrasting satinwood and ebony.

 

 The sides  and back have panels of flame mahogany framed with contrasting satinwood and ebony.

 The box is stamped "MICHAEL BUTLER" "127 ABBEY ST. DUBLIN"

Michael Butler is from a family business of cabinet makers and antique dealers. He traded in the late 19th C as "Michael Butler Ltd, Antique Galleries"
The firm specialized in reproducing 18th C Irish furniture. One of his most important commissions was to furnish the Viceregal Lodge in Phoenix Park in 1903. This is now the house of the  Irish President.