Object Detail
Description
knife box of rectangular tapering form, the hinged domed reeded caddy top with a central finial above a reeded frieze flanked by bronze Egyptianesque caryatids, the panelled sides centred by lion's mask. Egyptian Revival style Egyptian caryatids (elongated bodies and feet), rays of sun on lid Square, tapering box with hinged lid; each corner of the lid is applied with a bronze Egyptian sphinx head. When the lid is closed, the heads surmount shaped pilasters which terminate with pairs of bronze feet protruding from robes. The pilasters are inlaid with three lengths of ebony stringing. The top of the lid is decorated with reeding radiating from the stepped centre in which is placed a bronze finial (possibly not original). Each side of the lid is decorated with a panel of reeding and the plinth base is reeded all the way round. Each side of the box is applied with a pseudo-key pattern border in the centre of which is a bronze lion's head within a circular applied frame. The interior of the box is not thought by the curator (Harry Blackburn) to be original; the three separate cutlery trays are almost certainly later with the cutlery having perhaps been stored in an upright fashion, the silver handles visible when the box was opened.
Maker and role
furniture maker: unknown
Production place
England
Production date
circa 1815
Media description
Mahogany, brass
Measurements
490 x 320 x 320 mm (sight)
Credit line
Foundation Collection, 1989
Project credit line
This digital record has been made available on TJC Collection Online through a significant donation from the OPENING DOORS fund, the generous support of The Friends of The Johnston Collection, and Digitisation Champion Christine Bell
Accession number
A0040
TJC reference number
41
