This lovely little thing was I think made during the Edwardian period possibly a bit later or earlier and certainly a fine quality item. It is also in very nice condition with it’s only real mark is from the oxidation of the brass inside the lid. This is purely a visual thing and personally it means nothing other than the passage of time. To think that this rather pretty thing lived through both world wars is astonishing to me and to retain all of its usefulness is wonderful. 
One of my definitions of a good person,not that my opinion matters of course is that they travel in the right direction and do all they could and should to that end. Well it seems that this little box of colours did that and still does, at least thats how it seems to me. 
All of the pans here are I believe Ceramic and so could when empty be filled with your choice of colours. However that would be awhile yet as the majority contain much paint. I have tried them and they all work. 
The paints are by the very famous firm of Reeves of London and so is the brush so I think that the box was made by them also. They certainly made a very wide variety of all sorts of boxes even gift boxes that a visitor to the seaside would take home as a momento. I have seen those that date all the way back to the 1790s. 
This little gem is made of a lovely golden Oak and has as you can see a graceful arched handle which actually looks back to an earlier time. 
The box is opened with a press button which is also quite Victorian. This works very well. It has very good hinges held in place with tiny screws. A cheaper item would have nails. 
This box is of a size that will easily fit into a pocket for those excursions in the Sun that must be just around the corner. 
It is so much more elegant than the metal boxes and has the ability to offer a similar service. 
You will notice here that a few tubes again by Reeves are included. I have had much success with dried tubes by getting water into the paint. Watercolour is so accommodating in this way and literally springs back into life. 
Two of the ones here are hard with another giving slightly but the Chrome Orange seems fine. 
Overall this is a lovely little thing and whether used or not looks beautiful. 
Approximately,
17cm
7cm
4cm