Patinations

Chinese Rosewood Jewellery Box

Middle Qing period Jewellery Box, Huanghuali (Rosewood) Wood, late 18th – early 19th century.

This Rosewood jewellery box with excellent patina features a decorative painting and silver border on an original front glass slide, the high quality bronze fittings are in patterns symbolic of bats and clouds, while the original mercury silvered looking glass helps date the box to the Middle Qing period.

Shrinkage in the timbers and the deterioration of glues had caused structural damage to the jewellery box. Conservation focused on consolidating these structural issues whilst also ensuring the box’s function and integrity was retained. A conservation clean and wax was carried out without disturbing the original surface and aged patina.