Puckerings has dated this piece to the 1860s.
This group of buildings is a very significant seaside home built from 1897 onwards by Lord and Lady Battersea and designed by one of the most important of all British architects, Sir Edwin Lutyens. It follows the development of Cromer (in Norfolk, England), which is only a couple of miles away, as a very fashionable seaside resort in the 1880s and the building of large houses by well-to-do families relishing the bracing air. However, The Pleasaunce is almost certainly the largest: its original name 'The Cottage' was probably for the original house incorporated in the core of the new one.
It might have been a joke (the house has some 35 bedrooms), except for what it could be compared with, since Lady Battersea was the eldest daughter of Sir Anthony de Rothschild, of Aston Clinton, Bucks, niece of Mayer Rothschild of Mentmore, and Lionel, the first Jewish MP and granddaughter of Nathaniel Mayer Rothschild, the founder of the London branch of the great banking house. She was thus a cousin of Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild, the builder of Waddesdon. Waddesdon was being completed in 1888 at the same time as the Batterseas bought the couple of original villas, linked to form one home.
Made from exquisite Pollard Oak and brass bound, with a slot for letters trimmed in brass, the Lord and Lady would have placed letters in the box for a senior member of the household staff (probably the Butler) to collect and either post or deliver by hand. Most unusually, the glass privacy panels allowed the Butler to see if there were letters within but private enough for other staff not to see the contents. The glass panels are original and the cut surface on the inside of the box, there are panels both back and front.
The interior of the box is lined in black leather and the original makers plaque engraved "Jenner & Knewsnub, Makers, 33 St. James's St. London ". Established in the 1850's by Frederick Jenner and Fabian James Knewstub. They quickly many Royal Warrants including those to the Russian Royal Family and Queen Victorian.
About as grand as they come in excellent condition with a working (replacement) key. 12" x 7" x 7 1/2" tall.
Item ID: 35115
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Puckerings has dated this piece to the 1860s.
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Aristocratic Antique English Brass Bound Letters Box in Pollard Oak C.1860
