Jewellery Box by George Betjemann & Sons in Coromandel

Description A Victorian coromandel jewellery box attributed to George Betjemann and Sons, featuring Ashford marble pietra dura style inlay and gilt brass mounts, dating to circa 1875. The jewellery box is of slim rectangular proportions raised upon a plinth base and veneered throughout in richly figured coromandel. The exterior displays the confident cabinetmaking associated with Betjemann workshop production, where exotic timbers were combined with decorative metal mounts and distinctive hardstone panels. The lid is mounted with engraved gilt brass borders decorated with floral ornament surrounding a central Ashford marble pietra dura type plaque depicting blossoming flowers. Produced in Derbyshire, Ashford marble became closely associated with high quality Victorian decorative objects and was frequently incorporated into luxury boxes and desk accessories during the period. The front of the box retains a matching gilt brass escutcheon mount, maintaining balance across the exterior design. Opening the box reveals a cushioned teal velvet lined interior arranged for the storage of jewellery and personal items. Although unsigned, the construction, choice of materials, and combination of coromandel veneer with Ashford marble inlay strongly align with the work of George Betjemann and Sons of London, makers widely recognised for producing some of the finest fitted boxes and dressing cases of the nineteenth century. A well proportioned Victorian coromandel jewellery box combining exotic timber, Derbyshire hardstone work, and refined gilt brass mounts associated with the Betjemann workshop. View the full Jewellery Box Collection. George Betjemann & Sons George Betjemann started as an apprentice cabinet maker from a young age working for his Father in Law. In 1848, his two sons George William Betjemann and John Betjemann joined him under apprenticeships until 1846 when George William Betjemann started his own business with his two sons. In 1859 George moved to a new premises on Pentonville road, London. This was when the business became known as ‘Betjemann & Sons’. John Betjemann was grandfather of the later famous poet laureate Sir John Betjemann. For further information see our Makers and Retailers profile on George Betjemann & Sons. Coromandel is a valuable wood found in India, Sri Lanka and South East Asia. It has a contrasting hazel-brown colour with black grain. It is a dense, heavy wood that is so popular it has been logged to extinction over the last few hundred years. This makes Calamander pieces even more special. For further information see our Woods Encyclopaedia on Coromandel. Ashford Black Marble is the name given to a dark, fine grained limestone quarried near Ashford in the Water, Derbyshire. When cut, turned and highly polished, it develops a deep glossy black surface that has been prized for decorative use since at least the late sixteenth century. Although traditionally referred to as marble, it is in fact a carboniferous limestone rich in bitumen, which gives the stone its distinctive colour and lustre. The material was widely used in Derbyshire during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries for the production of ornamental objects including urns, obelisks, candlesticks, paperweights and table tops. Ashford Black Marble is particularly associated with pietra dura style inlay, incorporating locally sourced minerals such as Blue John, fluorspar, barytes and other coloured stones to create decorative motifs and geological panels. These finely worked pieces were produced by specialist workshops and remain strongly associated with Derbyshire craftsmanship of the period. Today, Ashford Black Marble objects are valued for their rich appearance, regional significance and place within the history of British decorative stonework. Pietra dura is a decorative stone inlay technique in which carefully cut and highly polished coloured stones are fitted together to form images and patterns. The process relies on exceptional precision, with each stone shaped so accurately that the joins are virtually invisible once assembled. Individual elements are cut, sliced and shaped before being assembled and fixed to a solid stone substrate, traditionally marble. The undersides of the stones are often subtly grooved so they interlock, providing stability in combination with a surrounding frame that holds the composition firmly in place. A wide range of materials may be used, including marbles, hardstones, and semi precious stones, chosen for their colour, texture and ability to take a high polish. The technique first developed in Rome during the sixteenth century and reached its greatest refinement in Florence, where it became closely associated with luxury decorative arts. Pietra dura panels are typically flat, though some examples were produced with shallow relief, blurring the boundary between inlay and hardstone carving. Pietra dura has been employed on furniture, table tops, boxes and architectural elements, and remains admired for its durability, precision and richly decorative effect. Jewellery / Jewelery / Jewelry In the UK and Australia the English spelling rule states that the final consonant of a word should be doubled when its added suffix begins with a vowel. Therefore the spelling ‘jewellery’ is used. This rule usually applies to instances where the final syllable ends with a vowel followed by a single consonant such as: Jeweller. The spelling variation ’Jewelry’ is thought to have had some popularity as a preferred ‘poetic’ or ‘rhetorical’ spelling in British English. ‘Jewellery and Jewelery’ is used in the US, the confusion continues with the correct spelling variant being ’Jewelery’ according to the Oxford English Dictionary. Why Buy from Mark Goodger Antiques? With over thirty five years of specialist experience, Mark Goodger Antiques is recognised internationally as a leading authority in antique boxes and related works of art. Every item offered has been personally selected by Mark, whose knowledge and judgement are trusted by collectors, institutions, museums, interior designers, and fellow dealers worldwide. Every purchase is supplied with a full supporting package for clarity and reassurance. This includes a Certificate of Authenticity, a detailed condition and care guide specific to your item, our most recent catalogue, and a separate invoice suitable for insurance and valuation purposes. Each piece is carefully examined prior to sale to ensure accuracy of description and quality. Your purchase is fully insured during transit and protected by our straightforward money back guarantee, allowing you to buy with complete confidence. We pride ourselves on transparency, expertise, and long term relationships with our clients, many of whom return to us repeatedly over decades. When you buy from Mark Goodger Antiques, you are purchasing from a specialist family business built on knowledge, trust, and an unrivalled focus on antique boxes.