Antique Coromandel Jewellery Box with Two Drawers and Secret Floor Compartment, by Leuchars

This large antique jewellery box, veneered in Coromandel with ornate brass recessed side handles, dates from the mid 1860’s. It was manufactured and retailed by William Leuchars. The central ’S.I.B’ monogram accompanied by a Marquesa’s coronet belongs to the box's original owner, Marquesa Sofia d’Incisa Brambilla.

The interior of the box is lined and ruched with green velvet. A push button on the foremost rim allows the front flap of the box to open, revealing two concealed drawers. The maker's plate on the rear rim of the box is engraved with ‘W. Leuchars - Maker to H.R.H. The Prince of Wales - 38 Piccadilly, London', and incorporates two brass push buttons that release the two concealed spring-loaded drawers.

With the bottom drawer removed, a concealed spring-loaded floor unit is accessible. This floor unit, made from solid Mahogany, is removed by pushing it backwards slightly, thus unlatching it and allowing it to pop up; it contains three slide-covered sections, two of which containing fourteen gold sovereign holders.

A spring-loaded Coromandel framed mirror in the lid can be removed to reveal a ruched velvet pad on the reverse.

The ‘Leuchars Patent’ stamp on the Bramah lock refers to its design, whereby the front aperture can be twisted clockwise using the key, thus disengaging the locking mechanism and allowing the box to be opened; by simply closing the box, the locking mechanism will automatically re-engage.

Provenance:

Marquesa Sofia d’Incisa Brambilla was born in 1845. She married Marchese Giovanni Incisa della Rocchetta around 1866. They had two children: Enrico Incisa della Rocchetta (1867-1931) and Anna Incisa della Rocchetta (1869-1943). The original personal calling card of Marquesa Sofia d’Incisa Brambilla, as well as her and her husband's joint calling card, remain present in the box. ... Read More