CHAPTER 16: PAPIER MÂCHÉ

Figure 16.1: Papier mâché caddy, c. 1785. Black japanned ground; band of gilded neoclassical decoration around body, with gilded border of grapes and vine leaves on lid; brass drop-loop handle, escutcheon and single hinge; base covered with green felt; underside of lid lined with tinfoil; interior with two compartments, with black-japanned lids fitted with brass knobs. Height 11.1 cm (4 3/8 in); width 12.7 cm (5 in); depth 9.5 cm (3 ¾ in). Private collection 

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Figure 16.2: Papier mâché caddy, c. 1840-50. Black japanned ground; extensive decoration on all sides and lid, consisting of flowers highlighted with mother-of-pearl overpainted with coloured varnishes; sections of painted and gilded scrolling on convex uprights; German silver escutcheon and hinges; large circular feet; interior with two compartments, with black-japanned lids. Height 15 cm (6 in); width 22.7 cm (9 in); depth 16.3 cm (6 ½ in). Woolley & Wallis Salisbury Salerooms Ltd 

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Figure 16.3: Papier mâché chest with gilt-metal mounts, Birmingham, c. 1765. Papier mâché panels on all sides and lid, painted with views of Venice and other Italian cities, all based on prints by Visentini after Canaletto; lid depicts Grand Canal with San Simone Piccolo on left and Santa Maria de Nazareth on right; views on sides include Santa Croce and the Rialto Bridge; views framed by rococo-style gilded decoration; intricate gilt-metal mounts; gilt-metal drop-loop handle and escutcheon; gilt-metal lion’s paw feet; interior lined throughout with green velvet, edged with silver braid; three compartments containing two painted enamel tea canisters with cap lids, and sugar canister with hinged lid, all with gilt-metal mounts. Chest: height 21.5 cm (8 ½ in); width 24 cm (9 ½ in). Woolley and Wallis Salisbury Salerooms Ltd   

Figure 16.5: Papier mâché caddy, c. 1775. Black japanned ground (with greenish tinge due to yellowing varnish), overlaid with mother-of-pearl dust; narrow bands of gilded scrolling decoration, bordered by pink, along all edges, with small pink flowers at corners; gilt-metal drop-loop handle and escutcheon; long single gilt-metal hinge, extending as a band around the inner rims, and with patterned edges visible when caddy closed; base covered with green baize; underside of lid lined with tinfoil; single interior compartment, with black-japanned lid fitted with gilt-metal drop-loop handle. Height 8.9 cm (3 ½ in); width 10.2 cm (4 in), depth 7.3 cm (2 7/8 in). Private collection 

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Figure 16.6: Papier mâché caddy, c. 1785. Black japanned ground; bands of gilded ‘mapwork’ around body; narrow gilded border of leaf pattern on lid; brass drop-loop handle, escutcheon and single hinge; base covered with green felt; interior with single lead-lined compartment. Height 11.1 cm (4 3/8 in); width 12.4 cm (4 7/8 in); depth 7.3 cm (2 7/8 in). Private collection 

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Figure 16.: Papier mâché caddy, c. 1785. Black japanned ground; band of gilded mapwork interspersed with small flowers around base; band of grapes and vine leaves above; narrow gilded border of leaf pattern on lid; brass drop-loop handle, escutcheon and single hinge; base covered with fine, dull green leather; rims finely painted with husk pattern; single interior compartment. Height 12.1 cm (4 ¾ in); width 14.3 cm (5 5/8 in); depth 7.9 cm (3 1/8 in). Private collection 

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Figure 16.7: Papier mâché caddy, c. 1785. Black japanned ground; vertical panels of gilded mapwork alternating with panels decorated with bold gilded dots; gilded mapwork on lid; brass drop-loop handle, escutcheon and single hinge; base of caddy covered with green baize; interior with single compartment. Height 10.9 cm (4 5/16 in); width 12.4 cm (4 7/8 in); depth 7 cm (2 ¾ in). Private collection 

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Figure 16.8: Papier mâché caddy by Henry Clay, c. 1775. Black japanned ground; painted decoration of classical figures in Etruscan style, taken from Sir William Hamilton’s folio Collection of Etruscan, Greek and Roman Antiquities, 1766-7; Demeter in the House of Kelos on front; three figures, with putto above, on rear; musical instruments on sides; bands of anthemion motifs, and of chevrons, around body; narrow border of leaves and berries on lid; silver drop-loop handle, marked ‘HC’ with a lion rampant and an anchor; silver escutcheon; single long gilt-metal hinge, extending as a band around the inner rims, and with patterned edges visible when caddy closed; base covered with green baize; interior with single compartment. Height 11.4 cm (4 ½ in); width 12.7 cm (5 in); depth 8.9 cm (3 ½ in). (The late collection of Robert Harman Cannell) Law Fine Art, Newbury 

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Figure 16.9: Papier mâché caddy by Henry Clay, c. 1785. Yellow japanned ground; pink, blue and green painted decoration of stylised urns, with scrolling foliage, on front and rear; lid painted with scattered leaves and edged with narrow border of husks; gilt-metal drop-loop handle and hinge; silver escutcheon; base covered with green baize; underside of lid lined with tinfoil, impressed ‘CLAY’ with a crown and ‘PATENT’ beneath; interior with single compartment, with black-japanned lid fitted with small gilt-metal drop-loop handle. Height 11.4 cm (4 ½ in); width 12.4 cm (4 7/8 in); depth 7.6 cm (3 in). Private collection 

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Figure 16.10: Papier mâché caddy, c. 1780. Black japanned ground; painted decoration of narrow green and yellow horizontal stripes; two painted roundels, each with classical figures, on front; further painted roundels with neoclassical motifs on sides and rear; narrow borders of husk pattern along all edges; Old Sheffield plate ring handle with oval backplate (possibly replacement); silver escutcheon; silvered hinges; rims painted with small red circles interspersed with white dots; base covered with green baize; interior with two compartments. Height 10.2 cm (4 in); width 20.3 cm (8 in); depth 12.1 cm (4 ¾ in). (The late collection of Robert Harman Cannell) Private collection 

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Figure 16.11: Papier mâché caddy by Henry Clay, c. 1785. Black japanned ground; painted decoration of narrow yellow vertical stripes; painted roundels, each with seated classical figure en grisaille within decorative border, on front and rear; narrow husk borders alon edges; gilt-metal drop-loop handle, escutcheon and hinge; base covered with green baize; underside of lid lined with tinfoil, with impressed mark ‘CLAY PATENT’; interior with single compartment, with black-japanned lid fitted with small gilt-metal drop-loop handle. Height 10.8 cm (4 ¼ in); width 12.1 cm (4 ¾ in); depth 8.9 cm (3 ½ in). Private collection 

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Figure 16.12: Papier mâché caddy, c. 1785. Black japanned ground; painted decoration of narrow yellow vertical stripes; painted roundels on front and rear, each containing rustic scenes within blue and pink husk borders; narrow husk borders along edges; gilt-metal drop-loop handle and single hinge; silver escutcheon; underside of lid lined with tinfoil; interior with single compartment, with black-japanned lid fitted with small gilt-metal drop-loop handle. Height 11.4 cm (4 ½ in): width 12.1 cm (4 ¾ in); depth 8.3 cm (3 ¼ in). Private collection 

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Figure 16.13: Papier mâché caddy, c. 1785. Black japanned ground; painted overall with scattered feathers; narrow husk borders along edges; silver ring handle, with oval backplate; single silver hinge, the metal extending as a band around the inner rims, and with patterned edges visible when caddy closed; escutcheon missing; base covered with (later) green baize; interior with single compartment. Height 11.4 cm (4 ½ in); width 12.1 cm (4 ¾ in); depth 7.3 cm (2 7/8 in). Private collection 

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Figure 16.14: Papier mâché caddy, c. 1785. Japanned ground (probably black); overpainted with pastoral scenes; silver drop-loop handle; no escutcheon; silver hinge; rim painted with red dots on black ground, edged with green lines; base covered with brown felt; underside of lid lined with tinfoil; interior with single compartment, with black-japanned lid fitted with small silver drop-loop handle. The shepherd and shepherdess on the front may have been inspired by an engraving in The Artist’s Vade Mecum. Height 11.7 cm (4 5/8 in); width 14 cm (5 ½ in); depth 7.9 cm (3 1/8 in). Private collection  

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Figure 16.16: Papier mâché caddy, possibly by Henry Clay, c. 1780. Japanned ground (probably black); overpainted with scenes depicting naval engagement between British frigate, HMS Quebec, and French frigate, Surveillante, on 6 October 1779; black swag on front, inscribed ‘Death or Victory. Fate of the Valiant Capt. Farmar’; gilt-metal drop-loop handle, escutcheon and hinge; base covered with green baize; underside of lid lined with tinfoil, with faint impression ‘TE’, suggesting word ‘PATENT’ (possibly part of Clay’s mark); interior with single compartment, with black-japanned lid fitted with small gilt-metal drop-loop handle. Height 11.2 cm (4 3/8 in); width 11.4 cm (4 ½ in); depth 6.5 cm (2 9/16 in). Private collection 

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Figure 16.17: Papier mâché caddy, c. 1780. Black japanned ground, overlaid with mother-of-pearl dust; inset Wedgwood jasperware cameos, ‘Sacrifice to Hygeia’ on front, and ‘A Seated Warrior’ on rear, both framed in silver and glazed; silver drop-loop handle and escutcheon; gilt-metal hinge, extending as a band around the inner rims, and with patterned edges visible when caddy closed; base covered with green baize; interior with single compartment. Height 11.4 cm (4 ½ in); width 12.1 cm (4 ¾ in); depth 7.6 cm (3 in). Private collection  

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Figure 16.19: Papier mâché caddy by Jennens & Bettridge, c. 1855. Black japanned ground; decoration of vertical bands of mother-of-pearl, interspersed with gold tracery; splayed feet; German silver escutcheon and hinges; impressed on base ‘JENNENS & BETTRIDGE, 9’ and numbered 828; underside of lid japanned black, with gilt motifs; interior with two compartments, with black-japanned lids with gilded decoration and turned mother-of-pearl knobs. Height 15.2 cm (6 in); width 19.1 cm (7 ½ in); depth 13.3 cm (5 ¼ in). Woolley & Wallis Salisbury Salerooms Ltd 

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Figure 16.23: Papier mâché caddy, possibly by Shoolbred, Loveridge & Shoolbred (by provenance), c. 1860. Black japanned ground; lid finely painted with still-life of fruit; splayed feet; lavish gilded decoration overall; German silver escutcheon and hinges; underside of lid lined with blue and gold patterned paper; interior with single compartment, with black-japanned lid fitted with turned mother-of-pearl knob. Height 9.5 cm (3 ¾ in); width 18 cm (7 1/8 in); depth 14 cm (5 ½ in). Wolverhampton Arts & Museum Services 

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Figure 16.24: Papier mâché caddy, c. 1860. Black japanned ground; lid with hand-coloured print of ‘Bolton Abbey in the Olden Times’, after painting by Sir Edwin Landseer R.A., surrounded by elaborate painted and gilded borders; gilded motifs on front; mother-of-pearl escutcheon; brass hinges; underside of lid japanned black; interior with two compartments, with black-japanned lids fitted with turned mother-of-pearl knobs. Height 10.5 cm (4 1/8 in); width 16.8 cm (6 5/8 in); depth 11.4 cm (4 ½ in). Private collection 

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Figure 16.25: Papier mâché caddy, c. 1840. Black japanned ground, with bronzing; painted decoration of naturalistic flowers on front and sides; more flowers and small fanciful bird on lid; fine gilded tendrils and scrolling, asymmetrically distributed; rear japanned black but undecorated; German silver escutcheon; black-japanned bun feet; brass hinges (replacements); underside of lid japanned black; gilded border around inner rims; interior with two compartments, with black-japanned lids fitted with turned mother-of-pearl knobs. Height 15.2 cm (6 in); width (at base) 23.2 cm (9 1/8 in); depth 14.6 cm (5 ¾ in). Private collection 

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Figure 16.26: Large papier mâché chest by Jennens & Bettridge, c. 1845. Black japanned ground; bronzed decoration of romanticised landscapes, offset by rich gold and lilac borders; German silver escutcheon and hinges; vegetable ivory bun feet; underside of lid painted with swirling pattern in gold, green, lilac and red; three compartments, containing two tea canisters with hinged lids similarly decorated to underside of lid, and cut-glass sugar bowl; well for sugar bowl lined with red velvet; base impressed ‘JENNENS AND BETTRIDGE’. Height 21 cm (8 ¼ in); width 33 cm (13 in); depth 20.3 cm (8 in). Private collection

Figure 16.27: Large papier mâché caddy, c. 1840. Black japanned ground; mother-of-pearl decoration, overpainted with gilding and coloured varnishes; gilded borders with additional scrap mother-of-pearl border on lid; German silver escutcheon and hinges; inner rims with gilded decoration; underside of lid lined with black velvet, with gold braid; interior with two tea compartments, with black-japanned lids with gilded decoration and brass knobs, and velvet-lined well for sugar bowl. Height 13.3 cm (5 ¼ in); width 31.1 cm (12 ¼ in); depth 17.8 cm (7 in). © Wolverhampton Arts and Museums Services  

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Figure 16.29: Papier mâché caddy, c. 1850. Black japanned ground; lid with view of Eton College, inscribed ‘Eton’ and highlighted with mother-of-pearl, overpainted with gilding and coloured varnishes; sides with extensive painted and gilded decoration, including flowers, similarly highlighted; black-japanned bun feet; German silver escutcheon and hinges; underside of lid japanned black; interior with two compartments, with black-japanned lids fitted with floral mother-of-pearl knobs. Height 12.1 cm (4 ¾ in); width 20 cm (7 7/8 in); depth 13.7 cm (5 3/8 in). Private collection 

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Figure 16.30: Papier mâché caddy, possibly by Jennens & Bettridge, c. 1850. Black japanned ground; ‘scrap pearl’ decoration on all visible exterior surfaces; gilded borders along edges; swept sides ending in splayed feet; wooden escutcheon (replacement); German silver hinges; base impressed ‘JENNENS & BETTRIDGE’ (possibly a later addition), with pattern number 200 over 6203 in red paint; underside of lid japanned black; interior with two compartments, with black-japanned lids fitted with floral mother-of-pearl knobs. Height 14.8 cm (5 7/8 in); width 20.6 cm (8 1/8 in); depth 12.9 cm (5 1/8 in). Private collection 

Figure 16.31: Papier mâché caddy by Thomas Lane, c. 1850. Black japanned ground; lid with hand-coloured transfer-print of river view applied to glass, and framed with brass; painted and gilded decoration on lid, front and sides; German silver escutcheon and hinges; projecting black japanned feet; base impressed ‘LANE. BIRM’ below a crown; inner rims with painted and gilded decoration; underside of lid japanned black; interior with two compartments, with black-japanned lids fitted with turned mother-of-pearl knobs. Height 12.5 cm (5 in); width 19 cm (7 ½ in); depth 13.5 cm (5 ¼ in). Courtesy of J. Collins & Son, Bideford, Devon 

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Figure 16.32: Papier mâché caddy, c. 1865. Black japanned ground; simulated malachite finish; Gothic Revival-style engraved brass mounts; brass quatrefoil ring handle; engraved brass escutcheon; possibly had bun feet; base japanned black and covered with velvet (replacement); underside of lid japanned black; interior with two compartments, with lids fitted also decorated to simulate malachite, and fitted with decorative brass knobs with gothic-style brass backplates. Height 10.8 cm (4 ¼ in); width 17.1 cm (6 ¾ in); depth 11.4 (4 ½ in). Private collection   

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Figure 16.33: Papier mâché caddy, c. 1870. Black japanned ground; simulated walnut finish; Gothic Revival-style brass mounts; brass escutcheon and hinges; projecting flat feet; underside of lid also japanned to simulate walnut; interior with two compartments, with walnut-finish lids fitted with brass finials. Height 10.8 cm (4 ¼ in); width 18.4 cm (7 ¼ in); depth 13 cm (5 1/8 in). Private collection 

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Figure 16.34: Pair of papier mâché caddies, possibly French, c. 1845. Each with pine carcass, overlaid with papier mâché; black japanned ground; decoration of stylised flowers in mother-of-pearl on sides and lid; lid with German silver disc, with initials ‘RJT’; German silver press button fastenings; ivory inner rims; German silver single hinge; base covered with marbled paper, with ivory fillets at edges; underside of lid lined with purple velvet; interior with single compartment, with black-japanned lid with small mother-of-pearl motifs and turned ivory knob; circular paper label on base of one caddy for W. Hick, a ‘Porcelain and Glass Establishment’ on Milsom Street, Bath. Height 10.5 cm (4 1/8 in); width 10 cm (3 15/16 in); depth 10 cm (3 15/16 in). Private collection