Antique Jewellery Box in Coromandel with Viscountess Coronet, by William Leuchars

This antique jewellery box, dating from 1863, was manufactured and retailed by William Leuchars. It is veneered in coromandel with brass edging, decorative brass strung inlay, recessed brass side handles, and two Bramah locks. The lid is inset with an engraved brass monogram bearing the blended initials ‘MA’ beneath a Viscountess’ coronet belonging to Viscountess Marian Alford.

The partitioned interior is lined with petrol blue velvet highlighted with a topaz blue moiré silk. A brass plate to the rear rim of the box is engraved with, 'W. Leuchars, 38, Piccadilly, London'. The independently lockable lower drawer contains a large velvet and moiré silk-lined section.

Both Bramah locks are stamped with, 'W. Leuchars - 38 Piccadilly - London' and come with their original key.

Provenance:

Lady Marianne Margaret Compton, the eldest daughter of Spencer Compton, Marquess of Northampton, was born in Naples on the 21st June 1817. On the 10th February 1841 she married John Hume Cust, Viscount Alford, the elder son of the 1st Earl Brownlow.

Viscount Alford died on the 3rd January 1851 leaving Viscountess Marian Alford with two sons, John William Spencer Brownlow Egerton-Cust, 2nd Earl of Brownlow and Adelbert Wellington Brownlow Cust, 3rd Earl Brownlow.

Lady Marian was an accomplished amateur artist, very much inspired by Renaissance painting and Victorian romanticism. Becoming a generous patron of the arts in both England and Italy, she was later instrumental in the founding of the Royal School of Art Needlework in 1872. In 1886, she authored the highly influential book 'Needlework as art'.

Lady Marian was known to be a very sociable character and was a close long-term friend of Queen Victoria. Lady Marian's extravagant entertaining and overly generous support for the arts led her into severe financial difficulties. She spent her remaining years at her son's Ashridge estate in Hertfordshire where she died on the 8th February 1888 at the age of 70.

Ref: DL258