Antique Jewellery Box in Coromandel with Betjemann Patent Mechanism, by Howell, James & Co
Ref DL110
SOLD
This antique jewellery box in Coromandel features an extraordinary set of internal mechanisms that enables it to cantilever out into six compartmented tiers. This mechanism was designed and patented by the manufacturers, George Betjemann & Sons.
The interior is lined and partitioned with burgundy velvet and grosgrain silk. The front flap of the box drops forward to allow the top two brass galleried compartments to swing out at right-angles to the box. This then reveals another two velvet-lined compartments underneath. These secondary tiers cantilever out by pushing down on a sliding button at the base of the box. When fully opened out, further push buttons on the secondary tiers are revealed, and these release concealed spring-loaded front drawers. These dovetail joined drawers are made from solid Satinwood and have velvet-lined compartments with full width ring/ cuff-link channels.
The rear section has a fretworked brass gallery frontage with two concealed leather-bound pull-out drawers underneath. Brass plaques inlaid into the rims of the base section, read 'Betjemann's 6’ and 'Patent 6’.
There is a removable ruched velvet panel set into the lid that can be sprung forward and reversed to display a leather-framed mirror. The right-hand hinge of the lid has incremental adjustments to allow the mirror (when stored inside the lid) to be adjusted for the ideal viewing angle.
An engraved brass plate on the front flap of the box reads, ‘Howell, James & Co - Regent Street. London’.
The Bramah lock comes with its original Bramah key. ... Read More
The interior is lined and partitioned with burgundy velvet and grosgrain silk. The front flap of the box drops forward to allow the top two brass galleried compartments to swing out at right-angles to the box. This then reveals another two velvet-lined compartments underneath. These secondary tiers cantilever out by pushing down on a sliding button at the base of the box. When fully opened out, further push buttons on the secondary tiers are revealed, and these release concealed spring-loaded front drawers. These dovetail joined drawers are made from solid Satinwood and have velvet-lined compartments with full width ring/ cuff-link channels.
The rear section has a fretworked brass gallery frontage with two concealed leather-bound pull-out drawers underneath. Brass plaques inlaid into the rims of the base section, read 'Betjemann's 6’ and 'Patent 6’.
There is a removable ruched velvet panel set into the lid that can be sprung forward and reversed to display a leather-framed mirror. The right-hand hinge of the lid has incremental adjustments to allow the mirror (when stored inside the lid) to be adjusted for the ideal viewing angle.
An engraved brass plate on the front flap of the box reads, ‘Howell, James & Co - Regent Street. London’.
The Bramah lock comes with its original Bramah key. ... Read More
- Width: 34.3 cm / 13.5 inches
- Depth: 26.1 cm / 10.25 inches
- Height: 21.3 cm / 8.25 inches
