Julie Cartwright Antiques has dated this Georgian Bilston Enamel Box to the 18th Century.
The hinged lid opening to reveal the original mirror, sadly broken but firmly in place and a white interior.
Dimensions:
Length: 5cm / 2 inches.
Width: 3.5cm / 1.2 inches.
Height: 2.5cm / 1 inch.
Condition:
In reasonable condition for this type of object.
The exterior in good condition. Minor grazing, commensurate with age.
Original lead mirror cracked.
The interior base with discolouration.
Good strong hinge.
Lid snaps shut firmly.
By the early 18th Century the town of Bilston, on the southern edge of Wolverhampton, was already established as a metal-working centre. The next step for these manufacturers of artefacts such as buckles, boxes and toy was get ahead of their competitors by decorating them. So they turned to enamels.
The technique of enamelling is applying heat to a mixture of silica, soda, potassium silicates and lead oxide, the enameller produced a paste which could be painted on to metal surfaces. Different colours could be created by introducing various metallic oxides into the mixes.
Enamellers often collected broken glasses from pubs and inns to grind them into the paste, but there were already, by the mid-1750s, suppliers selling coloured enamel powders already mixed. Bilston enamellers were particularly partial to rose pink.
There were patch and snuff boxes, boxes for trinkets and jewellery, bonbonnieres. These boxes became, with the advent of transfer printing, little gift boxes given as token of love and friendship or souvenirs from various towns.
Delivery:
PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO ADD POSTAGE AT CHECKOUT.
Postage UK: £5 Royal Mail Tracked 24.
Postage overseas: £20 International Signed For.
Postage USA (including US import duties): £45.00
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Julie Cartwright Antiques has dated this Georgian Bilston Enamel Box to the 18th Century.
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Julie Cartwright Antiques Profile Page
UNUSUAL GEORGIAN BILSTON ENAMEL PATCH BOX, CIRCA 1780
