Antique Bronze Gothic Revival Jewellery Box Casket, 19th Century.

Style: Gothic Revival

Materials and Techniques: Bronze

Place of Origin: England

Period: 1880-1889

Date of Manufacture: circa 1880

Maker: Adolph Frankau & Co, London

Condition: Good

A magnificent and rare, exceptional quality antique Gothic Revival, religious ecclesiastical bronze casket / jewellery box. It bears the makers mark on the underside, ‘AFC’ in a hexagon, for Adolph Frankau & Co, London, circa 1880 in date.

This stunning casket or jewellery box, is rectangular in shape each side decorated with Gothic archways and carved religious cartouches. The lid opens to reveal a superb original burgundy velvet interior, still quite vibrant., amazing it has survived. It is ready to store jewellery and all your precious items.

There is no mistaking its unique quality and design. It is very heavy, made of bronze. It is in good condition considering it’s age, unrestored, unpolished. One hinge has lost its horizontal bar, an easy fix.

Dimensions: Height 8cm x width 30 cm x depth 10cm

Adolph Frankau & Co - 19/121 Queen Victoria Street, London, EC4

In 1847, Adolph Frankau arrived in London and saw opportunities in the tobacco market. He created the company Adolph Frankau and Co and became an importer of meerschaum pipes and other supplies. He also took on a 14 year old boy, Louis Blumfeld.

The business thrived until the death of Adolph Frankau in 1856. His widow prepared to sell the company, but Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881), author of "Hero and worship of the heroes" advised her not to sell, instead, to entrust the future of the company to the the young Louis Blumfeld, then 18 years old.

Carlyle had a high opinion of Louis for his sense of responsibility for the business, his enthusiasm and his inexhaustible energy. Louis Blumfeld quickly developed an important international trade, with particular success in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and Europe, particularly in Switzerland and Denmark. A branch also opened in New York but the marketing strategy focused mainly on the countries of the British Empire.

Shortly before 1914, the need for manufacturing in London became pressing, and by the turn of the century A. Frankau and Co had a warehouse and offices in Queen Victoria Street and an export department in Upper Thames Street.

A factory opened in 1898. At the time, A. Frankau and Co also produced Calabashs. The gourd water-bottles originated in South Africa but supply became difficult. Blumfeld set up a special department to manufacture the calabashs and this survived the Great War of 1914-1918. However, after the war demand declined.

Overall, a stunning and rare quality piece from the Gothic Revival period.

Will be carefully packaged.