Art Supply Box

This listing is for a vintage LARGE (14.5 x 10 3/4 x 4 3/4 in) deluxe mahogany artist’s watercolor paint box made by Winsor & Newton. This is a collector’s item. These large boxes are uncommon or rare, particularly deluxe mahogany models. It’s especially rare to find one with original paints and accessories. AGE OF THE BOX. The box was manufactured around mid-1860s to early 1870s, e. The gold-embossed label mentions “His LATE Royal Highness the Prince Consort” – this appears after the Prince’s death in 1861. The company address is still their first original address – 38 Rathbone Place and no Ltd. The company became Limited in 1882. This narrows down the manufacture date to mid-1860s to mid-1870s. The box is 160+ years old. The large deluxe art boxes were made with real, solid mahogany wood. The small inside compartments and dividers are made with lighter wood. Mahogany is an expensive type of wood because it’s durable, has a rich reddish-brown color, fine grain, it ages well, and is insect-resistant. The box is reinforced with metal (most likely, brass) on the corners. The hinges work perfectly. The box shows some wear and use on the inside and outside (light surface scratches and dry pigment stains), but remains smooth and solid. It looks like it was not used that much – minimal staining on the inside and no water damage, typically seen in watercolor boxes. The dry pigment stains appear from spilled powdered pigments, not painting. The box comes with three white round porcelain mixing dishes, two glass bottles with lids, a dish for water (beautiful red glass), multiple box dividers (could be some extras, definitely more than can be used at the same time, one divider broken), a tray for watercolor cakes, and two smaller trays for brushes, etc. There is a large tray on the very bottom (about 13×9) for paper. There is a keyhole, but the key is not included. There is also no vertical pin that holds the bottom tray closed (it doesn’t affect the box’s functioning – the tray sits snuggly and does not slide out). The box comes with a large number of dry pigments and watercolor cakes. All original pigments and cakes that were part of the original box set, and many more. Most jars with dry pigments are full of powdered pigment; some were used, and three small jars are empty. See the close-up photos for exact pigment names. Many jars do not have labels; all are different colors, bright blues, purples, reds, and several earth pigments. There are also about 70+ watercolor cakes – most sampled or used. Several are dented or broken. Some color names are legible, some not. See close-up photos for details. It appears that there are no color repeats – all cakes are different colors (except for several Permanent Blues)! Some of the colors are no longer manufactured – Violet Carmine, Gallstone, Brown Madder, and some others – they could be very interesting for collectors and pigment enthusiasts. There are two jars with Egg Tempera Medium – both sealed and STILL LIQUID! One looks like it was never opened. There is a box of dry Gesso Powder for Barbola Work (for creating textured surfaces). There is a used brush, one smudging tool, and a fountain pen with a 5 mm brush and internal bladder (all dried and need restoration). Additionally, there are two porcelain full pans (empty) and three porcelain half pans – one labeled Cobalt Violet, one has paint in it but no label, and one empty. BOX’S BACKGROUND HISTORY. It is truly a time capsule! It is very rare to find such a box in 1 good shape, 2 with original glass/porcelain accessories, 3 with original usable mediums and pigments, and 4 with many more colors from that era. I only wiped the surfaces with soft dry tissue paper. With some real cleaning and restoration, this box can truly shine! The box and cakes will be packaged extra carefully, with lots of padding.