Sold 15 February 2025 · Opus Antiques

This “Antique Treen Tunbridge Ware Nutmeg Grater” found a buyer.

It was listed by Opus Antiques. Sold pieces stay on Sellingantiques as a record of what has passed through, and the next one is rarely far away.

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Antique Inlaid Wood Decorative Wooden Treen Tunbridge Ware Mosaic Ask the dealer for something similar

Description

An antique Tunbridge Ware nutmeg grater. The lid has a geometric inlay flower, this unscrews to reveal a grater.

The base unscrews for storage of nutmegs.

There are a few minor chips which have been repaired to the base rim.

It measures 4cm h x 3.3cm w

c1870

Date of Manufacture

Opus Antiques has dated this Tunbridge Ware Nutmeg Grater to the 19th Century.

Physical Dimensions

Height

4cm (1.57")

Width

3.3cm (1.30")

Depth

3.3cm (1.30")

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA921717

Dealers Notes

Own a piece of history

Description

An antique Tunbridge Ware nutmeg grater. The lid has a geometric inlay flower, this unscrews to reveal a grater.

The base unscrews for storage of nutmegs.

There are a few minor chips which have been repaired to the base rim.

It measures 4cm h x 3.3cm w

c1870

Date of Manufacture

Opus Antiques has dated this Tunbridge Ware Nutmeg Grater to the 19th Century.

Physical Dimensions

Height

4cm (1.57")

Width

3.3cm (1.30")

Depth

3.3cm (1.30")

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Ref

SA921717

About the Dealer

Opus Antiques

Sellingantiques verified Since Oct 2014

Antique treen, boxes & decorative georgian items

Dealer Profile

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

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An antique cylindrical Tunbridge Ware treen nutmeg grater with a geometric mosaic lid resting beside the main body.

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Archive I

An Antique Treen Tunbridge Ware Nutmeg Grater.

Archive II

An antique cylindrical Tunbridge Ware treen nutmeg grater with a geometric mosaic lid resting beside the main body. View II

Archive III

An antique cylindrical Tunbridge Ware treen nutmeg grater with a geometric mosaic lid resting beside the main body. View III

Archive IV

An antique cylindrical Tunbridge Ware treen nutmeg grater with a geometric mosaic lid resting beside the main body. View IV

Archive V

An antique cylindrical Tunbridge Ware treen nutmeg grater with a geometric mosaic lid resting beside the main body. View V

Opus Antiques

Telephone 07941 285 532

Location

North Devon
United Kingdom

Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/opusantiques

Verified Since Oct 2014

Items For Sale 98

Items Sold 2,404

Email Opus Antiques

An antique treen Tunbridge Ware nutmeg grater.

Ref: SA921717

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Cataloguer’s Note

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing

ObjectNutmeg Grater
Period19th century
StyleVictorian Treen
MaterialVarious native and exotic hardwoods
ColourBrown
MotifsGeometric mosaic, Micro-marquetry, Turned wood body, Fitted lid
SizeH 4 cm (2 in) x W 3.3 cm (1 in) x D 3.3 cm (1 in)

FAQs

Tunbridge Ware is a distinct type of decorative woodwork characterised by tiny mosaic tiles formed from naturally coloured woods, produced predominantly in Kent, England, during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Craftsmen used numerous varieties of British and foreign timbers, such as beech, sycamore, holly, and walnut, arranging thousands of micro-mosaics into geometric or pictorial designs before veneering them onto a solid wooden core.

Authentic pieces feature extremely fine mosaic tesserae without printed elements, often showing period-appropriate tool marks, natural timber oxidisation, and traditional hand-turned wooden components characteristic of nineteenth-century manufacture.

These miniature decorative objects work well displayed on bookshelf ledges, within glass cabinet collections, or as focal points on side tables where their intricate craftsmanship can be closely appreciated.

Maintain the wood by keeping it away from direct sunlight and fluctuating humidity, dusting gently with a dry, soft cloth, and occasionally applying microcrystalline wax to nourish the historical surface.