Pair of Antique 19th Century Penwork Display Stands
Located in Lincoln, GB
Pair of Antique 19th Century Penwork Display Stands Faux-Calamander Faux-Bois Turned Wood Watch Tazzas, c.1860 An incredibly rare and highly collectible pair of mid-19th-century English turned display stands or watch tazzas, dating to circa 1860. Masterfully turned on a lathe from a fine-grained hardwood, these diminutive pedestals have been beautifully hand-decorated utilising the historic technique of penwork and graining to simulate highly prized calamander (or coromandel) wood. The surface boasts a rich, warm honey-brown base, meticulously hand-painted with fine, undulating charcoal and jet-black "tiger stripes" that wrap entirely around the circular tops and baluster stems, perfectly capturing the prized faux-bois aesthetic. Each stand features a shallow, dished top with a finely raised rim, supported by an elegant, classical vase-turned column that tapers down to a stepped, circular plinth base. A key indicator of their exceptional age and authentic construction is the early, hand-cut wooden screw mechanism, allowing each pedestal to be effortlessly unscrewed into two separate components. Dating from the mid-Victorian era, small, high-quality turned tazzas of this scale were luxury items designed for the dressing tables, library desks, or bedside cabinets of affluent households. They primarily functioned as elegant receptacles to safely hold and display a gentleman’s or lady’s pocket watch...
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