Birch Scientific Instruments

Framed maritime signal flag representing the letter “V” in the international code of signals. This authentic and ocean used pennant is made of individual panels of red and white cot...

PRESENTING an EXTREMELY UNIQUE and RARE 19C British Tunbridgeware Hair Pin/Bobbin or Slide. This slide is unlike any of it’s kind we have seen before, it is a VERY RARE survivor. From circa 1860 – 80 and made in Tunbridge Wells, England. Made of walnut with gorgeous marquetry inlay on the entirety of the front with classic Tunbridgeware micro-mosaic all over the front. The rear is walnut. The marquetry inlay appears to be various different woods, namely, maple, walnut and satinwood. Would have been worn in a Lady’s hair bun with the micro-mosaic facing forward. This would have belonged to a VERY ELEGANT LADY in the mid to late 19th Century. Tunbridge ware is a form of decoratively inlaid woodwork, typically in the form of boxes, that is characteristic of Tonbridge and the spa town of Royal Tunbridge Wells in Kent in the 18th and 19th centuries. The decoration typically consists of a mosaic of many very small pieces of different coloured woods that form a pictorial vignette. Shaped rods and slivers of wood were first carefully glued together, then cut into many thin slices of identical pictorial veneer with a fine saw. Elaborately striped and feathered bandings for framing were pre-formed in a similar fashion. There is a collection of Tunbridge ware in the Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery in Tunbridge Wells. The famous makers of Tunbridge ware were in the Tunbridge Wells area of Kent; their most notable work was from circa 1830-1900. Early makers of Tunbridge ware, in Tunbridge Wells in the mid-18th century, were the Burrows family, and Fenner and Co. In the 19th century, around 1830, James Burrows invented a technique of creating mosaics from wooden tesserae. Henry Hollamby, apprenticed to the Burrows family, set up on his own in 1842 and became an important manufacturer of Tunbridge ware, employing about 40 people. Edmund Nye (1797–1863) and his father took over the Fenner company when William Fenner retired in 1840, after 30 years in partnership with him. Thomas Barton (1819–1903), previously apprenticed at the Wise factory, joined the Nyes in 1836, and worked as Nye’s designer; he took over the business in 1863 and continued there until his death. In Tonbridge (near to Tunbridge Wells), George Wise (1703–1779) is known to have had a business in 1746. It continued with his son Thomas, and Thomas’s nephew George (1779–1869), who took over in 1806. In its early years the company made articles such as workboxes and tea caddies with prints of popular views; later items had pictures created from mosaics. Their workshop in Tonbridge, Wise’s Tunbridge Ware Manufactory, was next to the Big Bridge over the Medway; the building was demolished in 1886 to widen the approach to the bridge. Tunbridge ware became popular with visitors to the spa town of Tunbridge Wells, who bought them as souvenirs and gifts. Articles included cribbage boards, paperweights, writing slopes, snuffboxes and glove boxes. At the Great Exhibition of 1851, Tunbridge ware by Edmund Nye, Robert Russell and Henry Hollamby was shown; Edmund Nye received a commendation from the judges for his work. He exhibited a table depicting a mosaic of a ship at sea; 110,800 tesserae were used in making the picture. The manufacturers of Tunbridge ware were cottage industries, and they were no more than nine in Tunbridge Wells and one in Tonbridge. The number declined in the 1880s; competent craftsmen were hard to find, and public tastes changed. After the death of Thomas Barton in 1903 the only surviving firm was Boyce, Brown and Kemp, which closed in 1927. Marquetry was an old technique which was continued by Nye and Barton to create images such as birds or butterflies. ‘Green Oak’ as caused by the fungus Chlorociboria aeruginascens. Stickware and half-square mosaic was invented by James Burrows in about 1830: a bunch of wooden sticks of different colours, each having triangular or diamond-shaped cross section, were tightly glued together; in the case of stickware, the resulting block was dried, then turned to form an article such as the base of a pincushion. For half-square mosaic, thin slices were taken from the composite block, and applied to a surface. Tesselated mosaic, was a development by James Burrows of half-square mosaic; it was adopted by George Wise and Edmund Nye. Minute tesserae were used to form a wide variety of geometric and pictorial designs. Many sorts of wood were used for the various colours; about 40 were in regular use. Only natural colors were used; green was provided by “green oak”, produced by the action of fungus on fallen oak. Designs for articles were often taken from designs of Berlin wool work.

Framed maritime signal flag representing the letter “B” in the international code of signals. This authentic and ocean used pennant is made of an individual panel of red. Fitted to a...

Exquisite pet/ doll bed in the Louis XXI style. all original silk brocade drapery and upholstery. and remnants of trims. mattress is stuffed horsehair. ostrich feather floret. (the h...

This is a very good quality and complete English handmade hardwood "Weighted" Club Chess Set game of 32 pieces, in the Staunton Fierce Knight pattern, all within a jointed wood box ...

Framed maritime signal flag representing the letter “U” in the international code of signals. This authentic and ocean used pennant is made of individual panels of red and white cot...

This is an authentic, original Chinese abacus that was actually used in the early 20th century. The abacus, an ingenious calculator, has been a vital tool in China for over a thousan...

This is a high quality antique Games Compendium, complete with over 8 individual games in its original hardwood storage box with a hinged lid, all dating to the Victorian period of the 19th Century. All the pieces are well made and complete. The box is made of a jointed hardwood, possibly red walnut and is a high quality piece in its own right. The box has developed a lovely color and patination from use and wear. The box lid has two brass hinges and two brass loop catches to secure it closed. The interior is sectioned into different sub compartments by hardwood dividers. Many different games are included within the compendium, including; Horse racing game...

19th century wooden riding boot trees, molds or forms. Great decorative and conversational piece, ideal for decorative purpose.

This is a nice vintage pair of Bausch & Lomb ( B&L - Ray-Ban ) oversized sunglasses having translucent tortoise frame with grey plastic lenses. Marked on frames : B&L - Ray-Ban, m...

Fabulous rare 19th century automaton. Most likely made in France at the end of the 19th century. She is a real beauty and in remarkable condition for her age. She is made of porcelain and cloth. When you wind her she bends her head and raises bouquet to smell the flowers. With the stand she is 15 1/2 inches high. Just herself measures 11 1/2 inches high. Approximately 5 1/2 inches in width and depth. There is a monogram on the back of her neck that appears to be the letter C...

Antique 19th century German screw arm plough plane carpenters tool in beautifully aged original old color patina to wood and brass w/ very fine hand crafted construction. Stamped Ste...