Oval enamelled box, England, 1761-1820

Made:
1761-1820 in Bilston
Oval enamelled box, with hinged lid and mirror inside lid

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Oval enamelled box, with hinged lid and mirror inside lid
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Oval enamelled box, with hinged lid and mirror inside lid, possibly for patches, a souvenir from Bath, English, 1761-1820

Collected as a souvenir from Bath, England, this oval enamelled box was probably used for patches. Patches were decorative pieces of felt or silk used to cover blemishes or scars on the face – particularly those caused as a result of smallpox.

Bath in the county of Somerset remains England’s premier spa town. Over the centuries, it has been visited by millions for health reasons. Hot springs were found in Bath by the Romans who built up the spa town from 43 CE onwards. The box was probably made by George Brett, an enamel worker of Bilston, West Midlands.

Details

Category:
Smoking
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A19554
Materials:
copper and enamel
type:
box
credit:
Glendining