Mahogany Oval Jewellery Box with Inlaid Paterae and Tray

• Thomas Sheraton - Thomas Sheraton (1751-1806) was born in Stockton on Tees in the north of England. He was apprenticed to a local cabinetmaker and after working as a cabinetmaker, Sheraton moved to London about 1790. Although he described himself as a cabinet-maker, like Chippendale, no definite piece of furniture can be traced to him as maker. Nevertheless, he was immensely influential and in 1791-4 published his four volume book 'The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Drawing Book'. The books were used as source of design by the furniture-making trade , who often simplified or modified the designs to suit their own preferences. Sheraton furniture is marked by restraint and sophistication, elegance and discretion, though he also found time to invent fanciful combination furniture.
• Mahogany - Mahogany is a dense, close grained red-coloured timber from the West Indies and Central America. It was first imported into Europe in the the early 18th century and its use continued through the 19th century. It was popular for furniture making because of its strength, the wide boards available, the distinctive grain on some boards, termed flame mahogany and the rich warm colour of the timber when it was polished.. The "flame" was produced where a limb grew out from the trunk of the tree, and this timber was usually sliced into veneers for feature panels on doors, backs and cornices.
  
  Some terms used to describe mahogany relate to the country from which it originally came, such as "Cuban" mahogany, "Honduras" mahogany etc. However unless the wood has been tested the names assigned are more a selling feature, rather than a true indication of the timber's origin.
• Chevron Motif - In jewellery, a chevron is a V-shaped pattern or design that is often used to create a bold and striking visual effect, and as a symbol of strength, power and protection.. It is a classic motif used in many different styles of jewellery and can be seen in various forms such as on a ring, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. It can be created with precious or semi-precious stones, pearls, or enamel. It can be found in different forms such as engraved or inlaid or beaded.
  
  In ceramics the pattern is often used in decorative pottery and porcelain pieces, such as vases, bowls, plates and figurines. The chevron pattern can be created by using different colored glazes or by hand-painting the design onto the piece. It is also commonly found in the form of embossing or intaglio in decorative ceramic objects. This pattern can be seen as a popular design choice in Art Deco and Art Nouveau style of ceramics.
  
  This chevron pattern can also be found in many different types of furniture, such as tables, chairs, chests of drawers, and cabinets. A common place to find chevron pattern is in a herringbone pattern, which is made up of repeating V-shaped patterns. The chevron pattern can be created by using different types of wood, inlaying or by using different colors of stain. It is also commonly found in the form of a veneer. This pattern can be seen as a popular design choice in mid-century modern, Art Deco, and contemporary style furniture.

This item has been included into following indexes:

• boxes, function - jewellery boxes, wooden 257
• boxes, material or decoration - mahogany boxes 238