Jewellery, Watches and Objects of Vertu

A late Georgian red leather gilt mounted sewing box, circa 1800-1820, of sarcophagus form, the red crushed morocco leather mounted with lion mask ring handles and outset lion paw feet, the hinged lid inset with cream silk bearing a printed scene and signed ‘W. Smith, Snow Hill’, the fitted interior with lift out tray, steel bead edged, containing three bone cotton barrels, and five bone thread spools, a bone tape measure case, two bodkins, a leather bound needle booklet and a mother-o’-pearl handled stiletto, (a pair of thimbles and scissors missing), width 24.5cm. £400-£500

The silk is printed with a scene of the Roman goddess Venus, (Greek Aphrodite), the goddess of love and beauty, riding in her chariot, drawn by two doves, (birds considered sacred to her and her worship). She is accompanied by two cherubs/Cupids, carrying a torch and a bow and arrows, again symbols of love “which inflames and wounds the heart”.