Catalog: Antiques: Decorative Art: Enamel (12)

Most likely French, 19th century. The image of an Englishman hunting with a hound was a common image on enamel boxes, especially snuff boxes in the eighteenth century. However, it clearly dates to the late nineteenth century. The lug and ribbed banding on the metal hinge, as well as the completely hand painted nature of the lid identify this box as a nineteenth-century creation.

Damage to hinge. Lid does not close entirely. Loss to underside enamel.

English, Bilston, 18th century, patch box. These memento boxes were popular at the end of the eighteenth century and frequently given as tokens of friendship and love. Usually oval in shape, but also circular and rectangular, their decoration reflected the popular styles of the day. For example, by the 1790s Neoclassical style swags, doves, hearts, and borders were the most commonly used decoration of the day.

Allover cracking. Small losses to the lid, one side and the bottom...

Most likely French, 19th century, snuff/pill box, However, it clearly dates to the late nineteenth century. The lug and ribbed banding on the metal hinge, as well as the loose hand-painted nature of the lid identify this box as a nineteenth century creation.

Very good condition. Some loss to interior enamel and on the underside.

18th-century English Transferware Patch Box; Now known as Royal Leamington Spa, the town of Leamington began its prodigious spa industry in 1784 when it began building baths around its salt springs. Consequently, the image on this patch box displays a Classical figure holding a caduceus, a symbol of the medical community dating back the sixteenth century. Thus, it is safe to say that this could have been produced no earlier than the last quarter of the eighteenth century...

English, Bilston, 18th century, patch box. These memento boxes were popular at the end of the eighteenth century and frequently given as tokens of friendship and love. They were also purchased as souvenirs while traveling. They frequently started with the phrase “A trifle from...” as seen on this box. Usually oval in shape, but also circular and rectangular, their decoration reflected the popular styles of the day. However, this box is particularly unusual in its mention of Blockley...

Attributed to South Staffordshire, England, Possibly Bilston, late 18th century. The “gingham finish” was principally produced in this area. By placing a piece of cambric over solid ground color and then applying white enamel this finish was achieved. The three dimensional decoration was also found in the area. It was normally created by applying several layers of enamel. In addition, the unusual heart shape has been found in other Bilston boxes...

Most likely French, 19th century. The image of an Englishman hunting with a hound was a common image on enamel boxes, especially snuff boxes of the eighteenth century. However, this box clearly dates to the late nineteenth century. The lug and ribbed banding on the metal hinge, as well as the completely hand painted nature of the lid identify this box as a nineteenth century creation.

Very good condition. Small scratch to lid.

English, most likely Bilston, eighteenth century. The elongated oval shape, all over floral decoration, and the unusual brown painted panels are not infrequent characteristics of Bilston’s “gingham finish” enamel boxes, hence the Bilston attribution.

Fine cracks to enamel, and small losses on both sides and back.

Source:

Susan Benjamin. English Enamel Boxes. (1976.)

5218-21: English, Bilston, late 18th century, patch box these memento boxes were popular at the end of the eighteenth century and frequently given as tokens of friendship and love. Usually oval in shape, but also circular and rectangular, there decoration reflected the popular styles of the day. For example, by the 1790s Neoclassical style swags, doves, hearts, and borders were the most commonly used decoration of the day. This box reads "Unity is the bond of society."

Most likely French, 19th century. A nineteenth-imitation of the extremely popular souvenir boxes made in Bilston at the end of the eighteenth century (see 5218-18). However, it clearly dates to the late nineteenth century. The lug and ribbed banding on the metal hinge, and the inferior quality of the painting identify this box as a nineteenth-century creation...

French, 19th century, Samson. The crossed “S” marks on the interior lid of this nineteenth-century snuff box indicates that this was, in fact, a product of the Samson factory. Edmé Samson founded the House of Samson in 1845 to decorate porcelain. However, it was Edmé’s son, Emile, who expanded the firm to include the reproduction of eighteenth-century English enamels...

English, Bilston, late 18th century, patch box,

These memento boxes were popular at the end of the eighteenth century and frequently given as tokens of friendship and love. Usually oval in shape, but also circular and rectangular, the decoration reflected the popular styles of the day. For example, by the 1790s Neoclassical style swags, doves, hearts, and borders were the most commonly used decoration of the day. This one reads "The Absent Not Forgotten."

Source:
Susan Benjamin...