CHAPTER 12: MOTHER-OF-PEARL

Figure 12.1: Mother-of-pearl caddy, c. 1790. Pine carcass veneered with mother-of-pearl; engraved neoclassical decoration on all panels; silver drop-loop handle and escutcheon; single interior compartment with inner lid with mother-of-pearl knob. Height 10.2 cm (4 in); width 8.9 cm (3 ½ in); depth 7.6 cm (3 in). © Victoria and Albert Museum, London 

​

Figure 12.2: Chinese mother-of-pearl chest, c. 1760. Panels of carved fretwork mother-of-pearl; silver handle fitted over pierced silver backplate; elaborate silver lockplate with similar silver mount above; silver ball-and-claw feet; silver hinges; interior limed throughout with red velvet, edged with silver braid; three silver canisters, decorated with chinoiserie scenes and bearing marks for London silversmiths, Samuel Herbert & Company, 1760-61. Height 17.8 cm (7 in); width 29.3 cm (11 ½ in); depth 15.3 cm (6 in). Thomas Coulborn & Sons Ltd 

​

Figure 12.3: Chinese mother-of-pearl chest, c. 1760. Panels of finely carved mother-of-pearl mounted on wooden carcass; large panels carved with mythological scenes portraying the Loves of the Gods taken from unidentified English prints; silver-gilt escutcheon, hinges and lock; interior lined throughout with dark green silk velvet; two silver-gilt rectangular bombé canisters with marks for Pierre Gillois, London, 1763/1764; cushion-shaped lids engraved with crowned cipher of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744-1818), consort of King George III. Height 10.8 cm (4 ¼ in); width 17.8 cm (7 in); depth 12.2 cm (4 7/8 in). Nottingham City Museums & Galleries 

​

Figure 12.4: Chinese mother-of-pearl chest, c. 1800. Panels of carved and pierced mother-of-pearl mounted on wooden carcass; carved pearl butterfly escutcheon; silver handles on sides and silver lion’s paw feet, probably of English manufacture; interior contains three Chinese-made carved and pierced mother-of-pearl canisters, two with cap lids (for tea) and one with sliding lid (for sugar). Width (of chest) 26 cm (10 ¼ in). (Formerly in the Calvert Wardley Collection) Phillips (auctioneers), London 

​

Figure 12.5: Ormolu and mother-of-pearl chest attributed to James Cox, c. 1770. Panels of carved mother-of-pearl mounted in a rococo-style ormolu framework; border around lid with ormolu enclosing aventurine glass; ormolu handle, escutcheon and feet; interior lined throughout with (probably later) blue velvet, with narrow gold braid in trellis pattern on underside of lid; interior containing three carved mother-of-pearl canisters with ormolu mouldings and cap lids; bases of canisters with square of ormolu mimicking pattern of chest’s outer framework. Height 19 cm (7 ½ in); width 25 cm (9 ¾ in); depth 16 cm (6 ¼ in). Thomas Coulborn & Sons Ltd 

​

Figure 12.6: Mother-of-pearl caddy, c. 1790. Mahogany carcass veneered with mother-of-pearl; inset oval glazed plaques, framed in gold, on front and back, containing miniature paintings; horizontal joints on lid and inner rims veneered with tortoiseshell; thin strips of tortoiseshell, with gold between, around base; gold drop-loop handle, escutcheon and single hinge; base covered with green baize; underside of main lid lined with tinfoil; two interior compartments with tortoiseshell-veneered lids ivory knobs; central panel dividing compartments veneered with tortoiseshell. Height 15.2 cm (6 in); width 16.5 cm (6 ½ in); depth 10.8 cm (4 ¼ in). Fine Antique Boxes (Tony and the late June Stone) 

​

Figure 12.7: Mother-of-pearl caddy, c. 1840. Wooden carcass veneered with mother-of-pearl; engraved decoration; silver lock and escutcheon; pearl bun feet; interior with two compartments with mother-of-pearl veneered lids. This caddy belonged to the poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-61) while living at Casa Guidi in Florence, Italy. The Provost and Fellows, Eton College, Windsor 

​

Figure 12.8: Mother-of pearl caddy, c. 1850-60. Mother-of-pearl veneer on pine carcass; all panels (except on rear) with engraving and inlaid decoration of contrasting coloured shell; solid turned mother-of-pearl columns at front corners; mother-of-pearl bun feet; German silver escutcheon; base covered with blue Morocco paper; inside of main lid lined with blue velvet; interior with two compartments with faceted mother-of-pearl-veneered lids fitted with flower-shaped knobs. Height 12.7 cm (5 in); width 16.5 cm (6 ½ in); depth 10.2 cm (4 in). Avon Antiques, Bradford on Avon 

​

Figure 12.9: Mother-of-pearl caddy, c. 1840. Pine carcass with mother-of-pearl veneer; vegetable ivory bun feet; German silver escutcheon, hinges and lock; base covered with black Morocco paper; underside of main lid lined with red velvet; interior with two compartments with mother-of-pearl-veneered lid fitted with pearl knob in shape of a flower. Height 10.5 cm (4 1/8 in); width 17.8 cm (7 in); depth 9.8 cm (3 7/8 in). Witney Antiques, Witney

Figure 12.10: Mother-of-pearl and abalone caddy, c. 1860. Wooden carcass veneered with mother-of-pearl and abalone shell; German silver shield for initials on lid; similar escutcheon and hinges; vegetable ivory bun feet; base covered with black embossed paper; inner rims veneered with ivory; underside of main lid lined with blue silk, trimmed with ivory-coloured cord; interior with two compartments; inner lids with similar pearl and abalone veneer and ivory knobs. Height 9.2 cm (3 5/8 in); width 14.3 cm (5 5/8 in); depth 8.9 cm (3 ½ in). Witney Antiques, Witney 

​

Figure 12.11: Mother-of-pearl and abalone caddy, c. 1860. Wooden carcass veneered with mother-of-pearl and abalone shell; edges of tablet on lid and apron at base with engraved decoration; German silver escutcheon, lock and hinges; base covered with black embossed paper; vegetable ivory bun feet; inner rims veneered with ivory; underside of main lid lined with red velvet; interior with two compartments with similarly veneered lids with ivory knobs. Width 22.9 cm (9 in). Fine Antique Boxes (Tony and the late June Stone) 

​

Figures 12.12: Mother-of-pearl caddy, dated 1896. Pine carcass veneered with mother-of-pearl; silver mounts and bun feet, all with marks for Cornelius Desormeaux Saunders & James Francis Hollings Shepherd, Chester, 1896; base covered with black Morocco paper; underside of main lid lined with green velvet; single interior compartment lined with patterned silver paper; inner lid veneered with mother-of-pearl and fitted with silver knob. Height 9.8 cm (3 7/8 in); width 11.1 cm (4 3/8 in); depth 7 cm (2 ¾ in). Private collection 

​

Figure 12.13: An almost identical caddy to 12.12 but of slightly smaller proportions and veneered with tortoiseshell; interior compartment lined with plain silver paper; inner lid with wooden knob (possibly replacement). Private collection 

​

Figure 12.14: Mother-of-pearl caddy, dated 1895. Wooden carcass veneered with mother-of-pearl; silver shield for initials; silver cap lid and shoulders with marks for Cornelius Desormeaux Saunders & James Francis Hollings Shepherd, London, 1895. Height 11.4 cm (4 ½ in); width (at base) 8.6 cm (3 3/8 in); depth (at base) 7 cm (2 ¾ in). Private collection 

​

Figure 12.15: Mother-of-pearl caddy, dated 1896. Wooden carcass veneered with mother-of-pearl; silver top of caddy, cap lid and ‘Tea’ label all with marks for Cornelius Desormeaux Saunders & James Francis Hollings Shepherd, London, 1896; underside covered with black Morocco paper; interior lined with patterned silver paper. Height 12.3 cm (4 ¼; width 8.9 cm (3 ½ in); depth 9.7 cm (3 7/8 in). Private collection