Featured Regency Sewing Box.

Interesting - just some thoughts:

Since we can't see the box, is it something that might have been obtained on the route of a merchant ship? If so, would think if it was part of the contents of an East India Co. ship, what looks to be a relatively small item would more likely be in a crated lot of numerous pieces - also wonder why all that information would be printed and placed on a single object, and if it was intended for the piece, why would they have placed that last line (the one with only '1816' legible) so very close to the edge? Personally, from what I can see, suspect more likely the fancy paper cover of sales or auction catalog was repurposed to cover the base of a British-made piece, another bit used inside the box as well - even possible the craftsman was illiterate, with no idea what it said.

Pretty sure the first line under the '196' (the number of a catalog?) starts with '2d M.S. 1820', perhaps referring to a second 'March Sale' of goods from the ship Elizabeth that were not put in the first sale, 'Refused/Prohibited' for some reason, the 'Prompt' maybe a reference to immediate dispersal, or payment?

A mystery to me - again, just my random thoughts...

~Cheryl

 

Ok, It's finished ....
Outside I polished the leather with renovating cream, on top there were 4 brass fittings that had always been there but there there was 2 different sizes, luckily I had a matching set from another box so I swapped them over, I took the knob off the drawer as it was wrong and covered the hole with one of the fittings until I find the correct handle.
Inside I repaired a split in the leather envelope and stuck the sections back down, I replaced the missing sections with some pieces from another box, I recovered the pin cushion with a scrap from another Regency box and I had the little needle book already,
It was easy to cut it down to fit.
c. 1810-15.
So there it is

 

Beautiful!
I love your box restorations and I can't wait to see the next one!

 

What a Story!! The sleuthing that goes on. Its a fascination for me. How cool is the possibility of where the box came from and who owned it - its journey over the last centuary plus etc.

 

Thank you, I'll be sure to show the next one

 

You have done a lovely job on the box. Does or did the box also have a musical fitting it it. I am looking at the little knob on the right of the lock fitting in front on the open box? It might have been mentioned but I tend to skim through and not read properly sometimes. sorry if thats the case. It would also have had to have a place to wind up the mechanism which I dont see?

 

I often wonder about previous owners, in over two hundred years it must have had many, it comes from a very different age and likely belonged to the lady of the house once upon a time

 

Thank you
No it never had one, the little brass knob you mention goes all the way down into the drawer, it's to stop the drawer from sliding out when it's being transported anywhere.
It would once have had a matching red leather lid in the open section at the front but that was missing so I've left it as an open space for little tools or whatever, if I ever find one I can put the supports back in.

 

I forgot to put the key in, the lock works too.
Inside the envelope it's stamped 1820 but it's too tight to photograph, same paper as underneath but like new because it's been closed.