This is a wonderful Georgian Watercolour box made by Cole and Baynham and is very rare and beautiful. 
The main character instrumental in the creation of this box and the business it represents was a man by the name of Joseph Cole. He was born in 1748 and left us in 1831 which probably indicates a life of good length for the time. 
People were tougher then and in truth they had to be. People in business needed to be quick witted and resourceful. Mr Cole was all of this. He did I suppose like us all get caught out now and then but like the cat that is said to have nine lives he always came back. 
All of his life was spent in dealing with the kind of things that artists of the day needed and it couldn’t have been easy with all of the competition that was to be found in London at the time. What with Reeves, Rowney, Newman to name a few, lesser men would have been daunted but seemingly not our Mr Cole. 
This box I believe was made about 1799, it could be 1800 but I once saw another though not as nice that had a similar label. That one was dated as 1799. I have also seen what I believe to be a smaller less grand box that was I’m sure later. But in forty plus years that’s it just those three from an output that must have been considerable. 
This one is by far the best of the three. 
Remember the cat with nine lives, well about five years before this box was made our man Mr Cole must have miscalculated a little as in 1794 he was declared bankrupt. This was a terrible thing then and probably not ever so pleasant now. However then if you couldn’t settle your debts you were off to the debtors prison until such time as your debts were settled. 
Whether he went to prison I cannot say but by 1795 just one year later he was Master of the painters and stainers guild!
Good old Mr Cole!
He then after a short time took a business partner in the form of Mr Baynham. 
On the later box I saw this had an S on the end of his name presumably to lead on to the following words such as Baynams watercolour etc and may be a method of dating these things. This box offered here has no S as can be seen. 
it appears that the partnership was profitable and hopefully resulted in calmer times. 
This box is made from a very good quality Mahogany in fact everything about this item suggests quality. 
One of the most striking aspects is the beautiful and all original barber pole type of beading around the the edges of the boxes top. 
Never have I seen it so well preserved. This design is something I find very attractive. It shows a very clever but sensitive way of giving the Mahogany a lift. It is made I believe from tiny pieces of both Mahogany and Boxwood. The contrast is gorgeous!
On lifting the lid of the box we see the beautiful original label telling of the boxes makers. It’s always interesting to me at least to still see letters where an S is shown as some sort of F. Shortly after this box was made this died out and letters became more standardised as you know. 
Internally we find a ceramic unmarked palette, a water bowl of a type typical of the time and of course a set of paints. I did at one time try the paints and they worked very well. I cannot in truth say if they are the originals as they show no name but as I say they work well. 
To the left of the palette there are in a little compartment some pieces of Conte crayon which I’m sure are later but better there than not I think. 
The palette lifts out by lifting the two replaced ribbons which connect to a section of Mahogany that raises the palette leaving a small storage place underneath. 
In the front of the box is a more recent Winsor and Newton paint brush. 
At the very front of the box is found the original lock. This does work with the key provided but is perhaps a little tired having done more that two hundred years of work. 
On the whole this lovely antique is in very fine condition and if looked after will be in another two hundred years. Without use as part of perhaps a collection it is a lovely thing just to have around, however It’s condition is so sound as to allow its careful use and is of a size compact enough to be used outdoors in the coming spring which is hopefully just around the corner. 
It is a beautiful thing that is just as useful as the day it was made all those seasons ago. 
Approximately,
22 cm
17.5 cm
4.5 cm