Extra Large Antique Jewellery Box in Coromandel with Concealed Drawers

Very possibly the largest of its kind ever manufactured, this magnificent Coromandel box dates from around 1850. The box is edged and inlaid with brass, with brass recessed side handles. There is a central brass inlaid and engraved ’S.I.Z’ monogram accompanying an Earl’s/ Countess’ coronet.

The interior of the box is lined with a combination of purple moiré silk and velvet. The main compartment is partitioned into fifteen sections, including a full width rear compartment, ring/ cuff link channel, and two concealed floor compartments.

A push button on the foremost rim allows the front flap of the box to open; this reveals three concealed drawers with matching brass recessed handles. The brass plate on the rear rim of the box deploys the spring-loaded full width lower drawer; this contains four partitioned sections as well as a removable leather-bound tray. The two upper drawers are pulled out manually.

A solid Coromandel framed mirror in the lid can be removed to reveal a ruched velvet panel on the reverse side.

The box has been fitted with a Chubb Detector lock that was manufactured in February 1849. The Chubb Detector lock was designed to be impossible to pick or open without its dedicated key, as well as having the ability to alert its owner to any unauthorised access attempts. The lock is fully working and retains its Chubb key.

Comments:

With certainty, this box’s quality of manufacture is the finest that I have ever seen. I have also never seen another box close to it in size (the scale of this piece is hard to grasp from the photos). The Coromandel has been veneered onto thick panels of dense Cuban Mahogany, giving the box an astounding weight of over 21kg! ... Read More