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ID #SA1240593
FOR SALE
£295
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Victorian Stationery Box by Jennens & Bettridge, C1860
For sale by Salisbury Antiques Centre
for sale €345     $375
£295
Salisbury Antiques Centre

Salisbury Antiques Centre

Sellingantiques Verified Since Nov 2007
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Victorian Stationery Box by Jennens & Bettridge, C1860

19th century
Description

A fine Victorian black lacquered papier-mâché stationery box by the renowned makers Jennens & Bettridge, circa 1860, richly decorated with gilt foliate designs and iridescent mother-of-pearl inlay.

The rectangular hinged lid features an elaborate central floral motif surrounded by scrolling gilt decoration and a geometric mother-of-pearl border. The front and sides are similarly embellished with intricate gilt scrollwork, the front incorporating a horizontal band of mother-of-pearl beneath the central key escutcheon.

The hinged lid opens to reveal a fitted interior with divided compartments for correspondence, envelopes and other writing materials, retaining its decorative patterned paper lining.

Jennens & Bettridge were among the leading manufacturers of decorative papier-mâché wares in Victorian England, renowned for their elaborate lacquered finishes and finely executed mother-of-pearl decoration.

The box displays some age-related wear and losses to the decorative finish, consistent with its age.

English, circa 1860

Physical Dimensions
Height
11cm (4.33")
Width
16.5cm (6.50")
Depth
11cm (4.33")
Declaration

Salisbury Antiques Centre has dated this Victorian Papier Mache Box to the 1860s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1240593
Dealers Internal Reference
C2004
Dealers Notes

Please contact us for delivery options

Description
A fine Victorian black lacquered papier-mâché stationery box by the renowned makers Jennens & Bettridge, circa 1860, richly decorated with gilt foliate designs and iridescent mother-of-pearl inlay.
“
The rectangular hinged lid features an elaborate central floral motif surrounded by scrolling gilt decoration and a geometric mother-of-pearl border.
Salisbury Antiques Centre

The front and sides are similarly embellished with intricate gilt scrollwork, the front incorporating a horizontal band of mother-of-pearl beneath the central key escutcheon.

fig 1. A black lacquered Victorian sloped stationery box adorned with gold leaf scrollwork and mother-of-pearl inlay.
fig 1. Victorian Stationery Box by Jennens & Bettridge, C1860

The hinged lid opens to reveal a fitted interior with divided compartments for correspondence, envelopes and other writing materials, retaining its decorative patterned paper lining.

Jennens & Bettridge were among the leading manufacturers of decorative papier-mâché wares in Victorian England, renowned for their elaborate lacquered finishes and finely executed mother-of-pearl decoration.

The box displays some age-related wear and losses to the decorative finish, consistent with its age.

English, circa 1860

Height
11cm (4.33")
Width
16.5cm (6.50")
Depth
11cm (4.33")
Date of Manufacture

Salisbury Antiques Centre has dated this Victorian Papier Mache Box to the 1860s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1240593
Dealers Internal Ref
C2004
Salisbury Antiques Centre
Salisbury Antiques Centre
Sellingantiques verified Since Nov 2007
Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Salisbury Antiques Centre Profile Page

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A black lacquered Victorian sloped stationery box adorned with gold leaf scrollwork and mother-of-pearl inlay.
1 / 6
Archive I A black lacquered Victorian sloped stationery box adorned with gold leaf scrollwork and mother-of-pearl inlay.

Victorian Stationery Box by Jennens & Bettridge, C1860

Archive II A black lacquered Victorian sloped stationery box adorned with gold leaf scrollwork and mother-of-pearl inlay. View II
Archive III A black lacquered Victorian sloped stationery box adorned with gold leaf scrollwork and mother-of-pearl inlay. View III
Archive IV A black lacquered Victorian sloped stationery box adorned with gold leaf scrollwork and mother-of-pearl inlay. View IV
Archive V A black lacquered Victorian sloped stationery box adorned with gold leaf scrollwork and mother-of-pearl inlay. View V
Archive VI A black lacquered Victorian sloped stationery box adorned with gold leaf scrollwork and mother-of-pearl inlay. View VI
Enlarged Archival View
Salisbury Antiques Centre

Salisbury Antiques Centre
Telephone 01722 410 634
Location
94 Wilton Road
Salisbury
Wiltshire
SP2 7JJ
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/sac
Verified Since Nov 2007
Items For Sale 404
Items Sold 4,523
Salisbury Antiques Centre
Salisbury Antiques Centre
Verified Since Nov 2007
View Dealer Info
Location: 94 Wilton Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP2 7JJ, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/sac
Verified
Nov 2007
For Sale
404
Sold
4,523
A black lacquered Victorian sloped stationery box adorned with gold leaf scrollwork and mother-of-pearl inlay.
Victorian Stationery Box by Jennens & Bettridge, C1860
Ref: SA1240593
A black lacquered Victorian sloped stationery box adorned with gold leaf scrollwork and mother-of-pearl inlay.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Detail View 5
Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectStationery Boxes
  • Period19th century
  • StyleVictorian
  • MaterialPapier-mache, Mother of Pearl, Gold Leaf, Lacquer
  • ColourBlack and Gold
  • MotifsMother-of-pearl inlay, Gilded foliage scrolls, Sloped lid, Escutcheon keyhole
  • SizeH 11 cm (4 in) x W 16.5 cm (6 in) x D 11 cm (4 in)

This Victorian stationery box dates from 1860 and follows the style of the period, produced by makers Jennens and Bettridge. The construction uses papier-mâché finished with black lacquer, gold leaf, and mother-of-pearl inlay, presenting a black and gold colour scheme with iridescent pearl highlights and metallic gold foliage scrolls. The exterior displays a sloped hinged lid, an escutcheon keyhole on the front face, and detailed gilt scrollwork across the surfaces, alongside age-related wear and losses to the decorative finish. Visible details include a keyhole escutcheon, a horizontal band of mosaic-like mother-of-pearl inlay across the lower front, and complex floral and geometric motifs across the sloped lid. The piece measures 11 cm high, 16.5 cm wide, and 11 cm deep. In a contemporary home, this stationery box sits on an office desk or library table to store correspondence, envelopes, and writing materials within its divided interior compartments. The sloped profile and compact footprint suit desktop placement in a study, home office, or reading room.

FAQs

A Victorian papier-mache stationery box is a decorative tabletop container produced during the 19th century, designed with internal compartments to organise letters, envelopes, and writing implements.

These boxes were constructed using layers of compressed paper pulp soaked in adhesive, which were baked, coated in thick black asphaltum lacquer, and finished with gilding or mother-of-pearl inlay.

Authentic Jennens & Bettridge pieces often feature a stamped maker mark on the underside, exceptional japanned lacquer quality, and precise hand-painted gilding or delicate iridescent nacre inlay.

Place the box as a focal decorative accent on a writing desk, console table, or library bookshelf to introduce historical texture alongside modern stationery or leather accessories.

Clean gently with a soft, dry microfibre cloth and avoid direct sunlight, high humidity, or chemical solvents that could cause the lacquer surface to micro-crack or the shell inlay to lift.
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