life
ANTIQUES
By Philip Hoare
Article by Philip Hoare
During my 43 years as a valuer
of Antiques and Fine Art, I
have always been fascinated
by the intricacy, quality and
variety of Tunbridgeware and
the incredible parquetry and
marquetry. As indeed were
Queen Victoria and Prince
Albert; there are numerous
pieces acquired by them,
now in the Royal collection.
Tunbridge Wells was a most
popular Spa Town in the 17th
,18th and 19th Centuries, this
was due to the minerals found
in the local waters, which were
66
The Joy of
Tunbridgeware
said to have great therapeutic
and healing powers. As the
town became increasingly
popular with wealthy visitors,
so the creation of gifts and
trinkets grew as a most
successful business.
Tunbridgeware, as it became
known, was typical of giftware
produced at most other Spa
Towns during this period, so
it is virtually impossible to
positively identify a piece of
Tunbridgeware from the 17th
and 18th Centuries because
it is very rarely marked. The
earliest recorded piece is a
backgammon board dated
1624, which now resides
in the Victoria and Alber t
museum. It wasn’t until the
19th century, when production
in Tunbridge reached its peak,
that numerous producers of
these fine parquetries and
marquetry’s emerged, the
pre-eminent being Fenner
and Nye, Thomas Barton and
George Wise. These makers
are known to have put trade
labels on their pieces, but
only a small percentage of
these labels have survived. A
piece of parquetry baring an
original makers label is highly
prized among collectors and
puts a significant premium on
the value.
Up until the first quarter of
the 19th Century all woods
used on the marquetry were
sourced locally, and all the
colours were quite natural. The
rarest colour and most sought
after by collectors, is green;
this was created naturally
when oak or beech trees fell
into bogs and were attacked
by fungus, thus creating a
distinctive tone of green.
The quantity of items
produced in Tunbridge after
1830 is quite astounding, most
pieces were functional and can
be divided in to three major
groups: Needlework, Writing
and Toys. As the 19th century
progressed the quality and
design of the pieces became
vastly complex, moving on
from the traditional parquetry
to exotic birds, flowers and
even incorporating eminent
local buildings and Royal
Palaces into the design.
It was extremely fashionable
among the aristocratic and
monied classes to collect
Tunbridgeware perhaps to
reflect the fact that they could
afford to visit such an affluent
town. Indeed, Tunbridge
Wells became a haven to the
wealthy - eager to restore their
health after their indulgencies.
From the late 19th Century
Tunbridge received Royal
Patronage and became known
as Royal Tunbridge Wells.
Even now in the 21st Century
Tunbridgeware is relatively
plentiful and the smaller
more pedestrian pieces can be
purchased for less than fifty
pounds. However, larger pieces
baring the makers labels, now
command substantial prices.
The illustrated occasional
table by Thomas Barton for
instance, would now cost
in excess of three thousand
pounds!
If you do find a piece
of Tunbridgeware always
remember to make sure it is
in perfect condition because
quality will always out.
For further information
on Art and Antiques please
contact Philip Hoare on 07773
877 242 or pahvaluations@aol.
com.
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