Lot 38: A Trio of Relief Decorated Brass and Metal Hearth and Desktop Accessories
A collection of three decorative metalware items featuring traditional motifs. The group includes a brass-clad wooden kindling box of rectangular form with a sloped lid, a brass cylindrical bin or umbrella stand, and a model cannon.
The kindling box and the cylindrical bin are both decorated in the repoussé style with a matching relief scene. This scene depicts a horse-drawn stagecoach carrying several passengers and a driver, travelling through a rural landscape with a church spire visible in the background. The kindling box is constructed from brass sheets over a wooden frame, featuring a hinged lid and a central brass carrying handle at the top. The interior is finished in black paint. The cylindrical bin is formed from sheet brass with a rolled rim and a stepped base, featuring the same stagecoach motif wrapped around the body.
The model cannon is a desktop or mantelpiece ornament, featuring a multi-ringed barrel and a carriage with two spoked wheels. The item is finished in a high-gloss, dark brown metallic or ceramic glaze, giving it a polished appearance.
No maker’s marks, signatures, or hallmarks are visible on the exterior of any of the items. The items bear several adhesive labels: a white rectangular label reading 6 on the front of the kindling box and the side of the bin; an orange rectangular label reading 38 on the rim of the bin and the barrel of the cannon; and a small white label on the cannon barrel that is not clearly legible.
Condition report:
The brass-clad kindling box shows visible tarnishing and oxidation consistent with age across all surfaces (photo 1). There is minor denting to the brass cladding on the front panel and some wear to the black-painted interior. The brass cylindrical bin exhibits significant darkening and oxidation within the recessed areas of the relief decoration and several surface scratches. The rim shows minor deformation from a perfectly circular shape. The model cannon is in good decorative condition with no visible chips or cracks; however, there is some minor surface dust and light wear to the high-gloss finish.
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