Antique Coromandel Tantalus Humidor Drew & Son 19th C

This is a superb antique Victorian coromandel cased two decanter tantalus and humidor bearing an ormolu label for Drew & Son, 33 Piccadilly Circus, London, and Circa 1890 in date

It was skillfully crafted in a rare coromandel case with a satinwood interior, it features two decanters and seven drinking vessels over a revolving 'Chapman's Patent' humidor. Each decanter with a sterling silver label, one for Whisky and one for Brandy.

It is a decorative piece which is also very practical, and would make a lovely gift.

It is complete with the original working Bramah lock and key, and this locks everything.

Condition:

In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned and waxed in our workshops, with only minor signs of use commensurate with age,please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 26 x Width 24 x Depth 24

Dimensions in inches:

Height 10 inches x Width 9 inches x Depth 9 inches

Drew and Sons 1887 - 1935

Manufacturer of leather goods, Manufacturer of picnic baskets, Silversmith

c. 1844 - founded by Samuel Summers Drew (d. 1914?)

known for bags, cases, trunks and other leather goods and later silverware.

based at 33 Piccadilly Circus when they moved to premises in Regent Street. First entered a silver mark January 27 in London. Pieces often stamped 'Drew & Sons Piccadilly Circus'

1888-1914 - also had premises at 156 Leadenhall Street, London EC

1894- also at Kings Road in Brighton.

1900 - Samuel Summers Drew and Ernest Drew were listed as gold and silver workers, at 33 Piccadilly Circus, London, W and 156 Leadenhall Street, London, EC.

1903 - listed as Drew & Sons

1914 - moved to premises in Regent Street, London. Ernest and John Summers Drew entered their own silver mark

1928 - incorporated as a Limited company

c. 1935 - still active In business.

Coromandel wood or Calamander wood

is a valuable wood from India, Sri Lanka and South East Asia. It is of a hazel-brown color, with black stripes (or the other way about), very heavy and hard. It is also known as Macassar Ebony or variegated ebony and is closely related to genuine ebony, but is obtained from different species in the same genus; one of these is Diospyros quaesita Thwaites, from Sri Lanka. The name Calamander comes from the local sinhalese name, 'kalu-medhiriya', which means dark chamber; referring to the characteristic ebony black wood.

Coromandel wood has been logged to extinction over the last 2 to 3 hundred years and is no longer available for new work in any quantity. Furniture in coromandel is so expensive and so well looked after that even recycling it is an unlikely source. A substitute, Macassar Ebony, has similar characteristics and to the untrained eye is nearly the same but it lacks the depth of colour seen in genuine Coromandel.

Bramah

is London's oldest security company. Established at 124 Piccadilly, London in 1784, and today based in Marylebone, London and Romford, Essex.

Bramah made their first lock in 1784 and the patent was awarded in 1787. The designer was Joseph Bramah. Joseph Bramah was a leading inventor of the industrial revolution, patenting over 18 new ideas, including a new valve for the water closet (toilet), the hydraulic pump, a fountain pen, and a fire engine.

Bramah also introduced a beer hand pump for use at the bar, to prevent fluid loss when barmen went downstairs to pour a new jug! Due to the quality of his manufacturing, his name became a by-word amongst British Engineers for engineering excellence and many of his inventions are on display in the Science Museum in London. You can find one of his original toilets still working in Osborne House, Queen Victoria's home on the Isle of Wight.

The Bramah lock was unique and advanced property and valuables protection enormously. Indeed it was 50 years ahead of any Chubb lock and 70 yea