Featured Info and thoughts on this Chinese? Sewing box? Please

Hi All, I wonder if anyone could help me with any of the following questions I have please. Age? General needlework box or for something specialised? Is it Chinese? Are the pieces bone or ivory? Should I clean it or leave it as found? If I clean it what should I use? If you can answer any of the questions I'd be very grateful. Debbie

 

Yes it is, and 19th century.

Bone, so you're safe.

 

@808 raver
@Shangas

thoughts..

 

I heart this box!

 

Agree, bone, not ivory. The implements look to me like they're for something more delicate than ordinary sewing. Tatting, perhaps? I see something that looks like a shuttle.

 

Great looking box!

 

Hey Debbie,

Age - 1800s. Can't really be more specific than that. Probably mid-to-late 1800s, 1850s, 60s, maybe.

Sewing or needlework box. The spools and spindles etc are for holding various types of thread, containers for needles, and so-on.

Yes, Chinese. I've seen three or four these types of boxes in my time, and they're always I.D.'d as Chinese export sewing cases / boxes.

As the others have said - yes, the pieces are BONE.

As for cleaning, I'm not sure if it's really necessary, but if you must, then nothing stronger than cold (or at most, warm) water and soap. Hot water might cause the inlays to shift and lift from the surface...and you don't want that to happen.

 

Very very nice box, nice and complete, yes bone, yes Chinese export c1840-1860. You shouldn't get lacquer really wet, a dry damp cloth followed by a wax furniture polish (not a lot) should bring a shine, you won't be able to anything with the gold images but these losses are very common, they can be restored but it's very expensive and wouldn't be worth doing on this yet, interestingly the antiques we have today will one day be treasured pieces in years to come, one day this box will have £1000's spent on it and sit behind glass. The winders might be ivory (the star shaped objects)

 

What's "tatting"?

 

Lace making.

 

a shuttle indeed..

 

Thanks All, very helpful and exactly what I needed to know