The hand-painted lid of this charming navette-shaped 18th Century Bilston patch box, depicts a lady feeding chickens within a dot or imitation seed pearl border. It closes upon a pink ground enamelled base. It is a highly decorative example and particularly attractive. English enamelling from this period rarely survives in a perfect state of preservation. Some degree of wear is acceptable, especially when considering its age, fragility, and usage. These decorative and finely made boxes contained beauty marks or patches, sometimes to hide facial blemishes. These patches were often simply round, but as their popularity grew in the second half of the eighteenth century, hearts, moons or stars were not uncommon. Where the patch was placed could act as a visual code - a patch by the eye meant the person was passionate, whilst one by the lips was considered flirtatious. Overall this box is in lovely condition, apart from some wear to its original mirror, which is to be expected. It forms pa...