A brief history about Tunbridge Ware
‘Tunbridge Ware’ is a form of decoratively inlaid woodwork, typically in the form of boxes, that is characteristic of Tonbridge and made in the spa town of Tunbridge Wells in Kent, in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The manufacturers of ‘Tunbridge Ware’ were cottage industries, and there were no more than nine in Tunbridge Wells and one in Tonbridge. Particular signature styles were Stick-ware and half-square mosaic invented by James Burrows in about 1830.
The sometimes highly decorative ware takes the form of a mosaic of many very small pieces of different coloured woods to form a pictorial vignette or patterned borders. Shaped rods and slivers of wood were first carefully glued together, then cut into many thin slices of identical pictorial veneer with a fine saw. Elaborately striped and feathered banding for framing were pre-formed in a similar fashion.
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Tunbridge Ware Book Slide. "Bayham Abbey" c. 1850. no. 732
Tunbridge Ware Book Slide. "Bayham Abbey" c. 1850. no. 732 Henry Hollamby's romantic composition employs long sycamore tesserae to accentuate the architecture.
£380.00
Tunbridge Ware Book Slide. "Henry Hollamby" c. 1860 no. 731
Tunbridge Ware Book Slide. "Henry Hollamby" c. 1860 This book slide incorporates Henry Hollamby's fabulous pictures of, at one end, a hawk resting on the branch of an oak tree.
£380.00
Tunbridge Ware Butterfly Box. Very small. c1840. no.729
Tunbridge Ware Butterfly Box. Very small. c1840. A delightful small butterfly pin or trinket box.
£160.00
Patrick Robbins, Tunbridge Ware specialist
I am a native of Kent and Sussex. I was born and spent my early childhood in Tunbridge Wells, so I am particularly fascinated by the art of ‘Tunbridge Ware’, which is unique to the area.
I have spent most of my working life in the Fine Art and Antiques Trade in East Sussex, developing a knowledge of the finest handcrafted decorative objects and furniture from early English Oak to Chippendale and 20th-century designers.
I have now returned to my roots. For the past seven years, I have been researching Tunbridge Ware in-depth and have built an extensive collection to offer for sale. I have many examples, from the commonplace to the rare, which are highly prized amongst collectors.
Take some time to browse the collection featured here on my website, and don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or want to purchase one or more of the pieces. More about Patrick Robbins.
Patrick presents a small selection of his Tunbridge Ware collection on Selling Antiques.