Box
ca. 1818-1863 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Tunbridge ware is a form of inlay, composed of tiny cubes of wood which were made from bundles of blocks that were finely cut across the grain. The industry was established at Tunbridge Wells in Kent and flourished throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
The border of the lid and sides of this small box are decorated with veneered bands of Tunbridge ware. A small printed label affixed to the underside of the box bears the name and address of Edmund Nye. The box was probably made between 1826 and 1851, the year Nye exhibited examples of his work at the Great Exhibition in London.
The border of the lid and sides of this small box are decorated with veneered bands of Tunbridge ware. A small printed label affixed to the underside of the box bears the name and address of Edmund Nye. The box was probably made between 1826 and 1851, the year Nye exhibited examples of his work at the Great Exhibition in London.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | The panel on the top incorporates European woods probably including oak, and tropical woods probably including amboyna, coconut, ebony, kingwood, mahogany, purple wood, snakewood and thuya |
| Brief description | Box with hinged lid, veneered in rosewood; the top veneered with a panel of various European and tropical woods and a border of Tunbridge ware, the sides also decorated with a band of Tunbridge ware. |
| Physical description | Box, rosewood with various other woods, some stained. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | 'EDMUND NYE, / Manufacturer, / MOUNT EPHRAIM / AND PARADE, / TUNBRIDGE WELLS.' (Printed rectangular label, details within an oval cartouche, on underside of box) |
| Gallery label | Box
About 1840
Edmund Nye (1797–1863)
England (Tunbridge Wells)
Rosewood with various other woods, some stained
Given by Mr A. Myers Smith
Museum no. Circ. 1155-1924
The mosaic-like bands around this box are veneer strips, made in a technique associated with the town of Tunbridge Wells in Kent. Like sadeli, they were made by sawing across a bundle of glued rods to produce many identical slices. The designs for the bundles were first drawn on squared paper, like those used for Berlin woolwork embroidery.(01/12/2012) |
| Credit line | Given by Mr A. Myers Smith |
| Production | Labelled by Edmund Nye |
| Summary | Tunbridge ware is a form of inlay, composed of tiny cubes of wood which were made from bundles of blocks that were finely cut across the grain. The industry was established at Tunbridge Wells in Kent and flourished throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The border of the lid and sides of this small box are decorated with veneered bands of Tunbridge ware. A small printed label affixed to the underside of the box bears the name and address of Edmund Nye. The box was probably made between 1826 and 1851, the year Nye exhibited examples of his work at the Great Exhibition in London. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | CIRC.1155-1924 |
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| Record created | December 8, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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