Travelling box
Category
Furniture
Date
1830 - 1870
Materials
Mother-of-pearl [pinctada maxima], Paint, Papier-mâché, Satin, Silk, Silvered glass, Velvet, Wood
Measurements
485 mm (H)460 mm (W)330 mm (D)
Order this imageCollection
Greenway, Devon
NT 120655
Summary
Large black papier mache compendum in the form of a cupboard, as 118973 but about four times as big! and in better condition. The top panel has a painted view of Venice with mother-of-pearl highlights; the fitted sewing box in the cornice has numerous compartments lined with silver paper, and the accessories and the inside of the lid are covered in green satin. The cupboard section has a central partition with a mirrored door with a long drawer above fitted out (with green velvet) for jewellery, and a long drawer below fitted out as a writing box. This has a brightly coloured naturalistic floral bouquet on the lid, with mother-of-pearl highlights and borders and, in front, a pencil trough flanked by square compartments. The lid opens out with a green figured velvet writing slope with a further lid revealing a well for papers (hinges damaged). There are three narrow drawers on either side of the central mirror, each with a mother-of-pearl floret knob; the top and bottom drawers have two knobs (one missing from top drawer). The cabinet has metal escutcheons and locks (no keys found), and is decorated with painted and mother-of-pearl flower bouquets on the doors and sides with extensive gilding, and inlays of mother-of-pearl fragments. Probably West Midlands, mid 19th century