This beautiful artists box was made during the 1890s though it could stretch into the Edwardian era. Over my forty years of collecting and through my work as a museum’s conservator I have been fortunate to see actual dated versions of these boxes. 
It was not unusual for people to sign and date their new paint boxes possibly because they were quite expensive and perhaps because of a certain amount of innocent pride in their new companion. 
A lot of these boxes were owned by young ladies as at this time and much earlier watercolour painting was actually a part of a young ladies education. I don’t mind saying that I’m slightly envious about this as I would have loved to have my own teacher in watercolour when I was growing up. Sometimes I wouldn’t mind having one now!
 
This particular example has been used well and sensitively and was obviously loved. There are some discreet and again sensitive repairs here and there but nothing of any consequence in my opinion. They certainly don’t detract from what is a lovely and useful box that is still so full of life for me. 
 
It is constructed from a warm richly coloured Mahogany with a fine patina that appears sound and strong. 
Internally it has its original slightly worn but still beautiful label which proclaims its makers and a good full set of ceramic pans. This is I think slightly unusual but very nice. At the time the box was made paint in pans was a good deal more expensive than the more common and less user friendly paint blocks. Partially I think as they were more expensive to produce and probably because In actual use they were better. For paint to be more moist it probably stands to reason that they will also be softer. The exposed blocks would definitely suffer if not enclosed in something like the pan. 
These pans first came into use during the 1840s and it is these that heralded all those very many tin pocket boxes of watercolours that were made all through the Victorian period and up to today. 
To the modern user ceramic pans are excellent in that they are almost indestructible and so can be washed out and refilled as many times as desired. 
Although this box looks to us very pretty and offers lots of inspiration from the past it is for the want of a better phrase a really good watercolour system. With a good set of ceramic pans housed within a sturdy box this is still after all of this time a very good and useful painting tool especially if you make your own paints. 
However this paint box has more in that it’s original ceramic palette duly stamped with its makers name is present. Again these are a joy to use. It shows crazing as should be expected and a few tiny chips here and there but it’s never been broken and is very sound. 
 
It has a working lock and key though it’s wise not to put to much faith in these old locks as they have done an awful lot of work. There is the possibility that at sometime in antiquity the lock could have been replaced but I doubt it. If it was it was done as I say a very long time ago. 
Personally I love to see signs that these boxes have been loved. 
 
Either for the artist who works indoors or who ventures out to paint this box will be found to be of a good size. It would easily fit into a bag. More people than you might think use these and larger wooden boxes to paint outdoors and I love to think that one day this little box will be once again on the banks of a gently murmuring stream or even in some busy urban scene. In either place and many more it would make a great companion. 
 
Approx,
19cm
17cm
4cm