Studio RT Ltd

Description

We are delighted to offer for sale this very long Mid-Victorian Book Slide in Rosewood, with the two end panels in Tunbridge Ware, both depicting a view of Windsor Castle. The end panels are in solid Rosewood, with the exterior of each with applied boxwood with the design of Windsor Castle in tesserae in the centre and a band of tesselated mosaic around the edges. Each end has a shaped pierced handle.All the four brass hinges are stamped P M & Co Patent, which we have researched, and found them on another book slide from circa 1840.

The famous makers of Tunbridge ware were in the Tunbridge Wells area of Kent their most notable work was from about 1830 to 1900.

Early makers of Tunbridge ware, in Tunbridge Wells in the mid 18th century, were the Burrows family, and Fenner and Co. In the 19th century, around 1830, James Burrows invented a technique of creating mosaics from wooden tesserae. Henry Hollamby, apprenticed to the Burrows family, set up on his own in 1842 and became an important manufacturer of Tunbridge ware, employing about 40 people.

Edmund Nye (1797–1863) and his father took over the Fenner company when William Fenner retired in 1840, after 30 years in partnership with him. Thomas Barton (1819–1903), previously apprenticed at the Wise factory, joined the Nyes in 1836, and worked as Nye's designer he took over the business in 1863 and continued there until his death.

In Tonbridge (near to Tunbridge Wells), George Wise (1703–1779) is known to have had a business in 1746. It continued with his son Thomas, and Thomas's nephew George (1779–1869), who took over in 1806. In its early years the company made articles such as workboxes and tea caddies with prints of popular views later items had pictures created from mosaics. Their workshop in Tonbridge, Wise's Tunbridge Ware Manufactory, was next to the Big Bridge over the Medway the building was demolished in 1886 to widen the approach to the bridge.

Tunbridge ware became popular with visitors to the spa town of Tunbridge Wells, who bought them as souvenirs and gifts. Articles included cribbage boards, paperweights, writing slopes, snuff boxes and glove boxes.

At the Great Exhibition of 1851, Tunbridge ware by Edmund Nye, Robert Russell and Henry Hollamby was shown Edmund Nye received a commendation from the judges for his work. He exhibited a table depicting a mosaic of a ship at sea 110,800 tesserae were used in making the picture.
The manufacturers of Tunbridge ware were cottage industries, and they were no more than nine in Tunbridge Wells and one in Tonbridge. The number declined in the 1880s competent craftsmen were hard to find, and public tastes changed. After the death of Thomas Barton in 1903 the only surviving firm was Boyce, Brown and Kemp, which closed in 1927. There is a large collection of Tunbridge Ware in the Tunbridge Well Museum and Art Gallery and examples can be found in the few remaining antique shops in The Pantiles.

Width when closed: 15 14" - 38.75cm

Height of ends: 6 1/2" - 16.5cm

Width when open: 26 1/2" - 67.35cm

Internal width: 25 1/2" - 64.75cm

Materials: Rosewood boxwood and mixed woods

Condition: Very good. The slide is in perfect working order. The Tunbridge Ware ends are in perfect condition, as is the polished surface. The slide bears a few minor signs of use as expected for approximately 150 years.