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Antique Boxes at the Sign of the Hygra 2 Middleton Road, London, E8 4BL, UK. (by appointment only) PHONE: 00 44 (0)20 7254 7074
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This page is under construction.
Middle
box: French mid 18th century straw marquetry box for use on a table.
The central section lifts up (not shown in picture) to reveal the mirror and
small compartments for patches and a tube for other beauty repairs. This was
made as a Valentine gift as the picture has a love motto.
Rectangular
box: Sycamore inlaid with geometric mosaic of end grain hardwoods. Typical of
Tunbridge ware work of the early !9th century. The mirror is original
and on the base of the box. Very unusual in that patch boxes were not made in
any numbers at Tunbridge Wells. . Round
box: Maple, beech and blackthorn turned and inlaid in the neoclassical tradition
of the 1780s. The mirror is fixed on the inside of the lid. The box has a loop
for wearing around the neck. This is in so that the patches could have been
carried in the health baths which were a fashionable activity indulged in by
both hypochondriacs, frail folk and especially the fashionable. This is a very
rare piece. Such work was reserved for snuff boxes which had no mirror and no
wearing attachment.
© 1999 Antigone Clarke and Joseph O'Kelly
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