Sewing box
Category
Objets de vertu
Date
1830 - 1870
Materials
Bone, Dalbergia nigra, Metal, Paper, Rosewood [dalbergia nigra], Silk, Sycamore
Measurements
100 mm (H)240 mm (Length)186 mm (W)
Order this imageCollection
Greenway, Devon
NT 120785
Summary
Work box of sycamore and pine with rosewood veneers. The flat central section of the lid has a micro-mosaic butterfly on a sycamore background bordered with geometric patterns, and a faded rosewood outer frame bordered with similar patterns and crossbanding. The sloping outer border and the sides of the lid are decorated with geometric mosaic; the sides of the body also have geometric mosaic borders and there is a central keyhole and lock. The recessed base is covered in pale blue paper; the feet are missing. Inside, the lift-out tray has compartments for sewing equipment including mosaic-ware cotton reels, a thread winder, a small round receptacle, a thread waxer and pincushion (of stickware), a book shaped needlecase, two rectangular boxes with sliding mosaic-ware lids with white glass knobs, and another pincushion; the thimble and most of the thread winders are missing. The whole of the lift-out section, and the space below, are covered with pale blue paper. The inner surfaces of the bottoms and lids of the small boxes are also covered with a small-patterned paper with gilt leaves. Tunbridge ware, mid 19th century.