If there are White Elephants and these creatures form Herds this must be one of their flock! And what follows at least in part is why I think so. 
 
The great business that Jabez Barnard created was both prolific and successful right up to the 1940s. If we remember that he commenced business in 1837 then I think that that must be some kind of defining characteristic of success. 
 
Within his type of business it stands I think to reason that you would want to satisfy as many needs for customers as possible within your trade especially if we remember just how much competition was in London during the 19th century. Surely to be as successful as the business was one would need to make everything for the watercolour painter this was after all a very important pastime and a part of the structure of education at the time. Watercolour painting was for a very long time a key part in a young ladies learning. 
So why I have asked myself many times are watercolour boxes from this maker so very rare?
The truth is I don’t know but I can’t believe it was for the lack of such boxes being made and sold. As I’ve said before Mr Barnard was born in 1800 and left us in 1894! He surely had much time to make them!
What makes it even stranger for me at least is that I’ve seen quite a few items that must have come out of such boxes. 
Maybe I’m jinxed or something like that to not find many or maybe there are just not many left for some reason?
I have at present a metal box by them listed also on Etsy which is rare enough but to my mind what we have here is a white Elephant in that it is a very high quality wooden one with a very splendid Dragon on its label. 
 
I’ve been asked a few times before whether it’s a Griffin or Dragon. Well I suspect that Mr Barnard decided to go one better than his arch rival of the time Winsor and Newton. They had a griffin but Mr Barnard had a Dragon!
 
This box was I think made about 1870. I can’t be massively wrong as the address shown on the label limits it to before 1881 as the street was re numbered then. However I think it’s early and made to directly compete with Winsor and Newton who also made a box of this size and with a blue label around this time. 
 
It is made from a very rich high quality Mahogany that glows. The box is in good condition and quite sound. It’s top is framed in Ebony beading which appears sound and has to gaps in it. 
 
On lifting the lid we see the wonderful Dragon label advertising the makers very proudly. The label shows some repairs but it is literally stunning. 
Internally we find a lift out paint tray again in good condition with a set of paints. I can’t say that they are the original paints as they show no name from use? but they do work well. 
 
As well as the beautiful blue label on the underside of the lid there is also a label at the front of the box where traditionally brushes were placed. It’s not ever so legible as it does show a bit of wear from brushes being placed on it but it’s in good order and quite honestly I’m amazed that it’s present as they are quite fragile and always so to speak in harms way with soggy brushes! Very often they don’t stand up to this and are absent. 
 
The original lock is also present and it has a key that operates it although I wouldn’t trust these old locks too much as they have done an awful lot of work. The key is a bit odd as I think it must have been adapted from another at some point but as I say it does work the lock. 
 
When made these boxes were very expensive and it’s not uncommon to find them with an owners name on them. Very often if they changed hands the original name would be removed. I mention this as next to the lock there is a mark in the wood where I think initials may have been filled in? It was done some time ago and is very neat. 
 
Finally there are two possibly near contemporary brushes present which is very nice. Both are I think Sable and are quite useable. 
 
Overall this is a beautiful and very rare item that could be instantly put back into service so to speak. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if because of its rarity and beauty if it ends up being a sound investment either. 
A box like this really is an investment in the artist also. 
Approximately,
 
22cm
10cm
4.5cm