George III Chinoiserie Brass Mounted Penwork Jewellery Box, Signed E.F 1816

George III Chinoiserie Brass Mounted Penwork Jewellery Box, Signed E.F 1816

An exemplary George III chinoiserie and floral design penwork jewellery box, dated 1816.

This superb example in flawless condition is incredibly well decorated onto sycamore, depicting a floral frieze bordered by linear stringing, raised on hairy poor brass lion feet and lion mask ring carrying handles to each side.

The top, similarly decorated and bordered in a floral design depicts a detailed chinoiserie scene consisting of three figures and foliage, signed to the lower right E.F 1816.

Opening the original lock with the period key reveals the original marble paper-lined interior and tray.

It should be noted that this box is an extremely early example of Penwork from the first quarter of the 19th century.

Penwork – The drawings were created with incredible accuracy demonstrating the mastery of the artist in producing intricate details, an attractive finish and beautifully polished with shellac. The tradition of penwork has been passed down through generations and can be highly detailed showing the skill and expertise of the artist. The scenes depict a wide range of subject matter including, figures, landscapes, birds, insects, plants, flowers, and animals, as well as stories from Greek mythology and less frequently, chinoiserie designs. Sycamore also referred to as Harewood is a member of the Maple family and is found in Europe, light yellow in colour with a straight, fine grain.