Holt Antiques at Walsingham Mill
Late 18th Century English Antique Treen Box Marked "Chess Box"
Late 18th Century English Antique Treen Box Marked "Chess Box"
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A late 18th-century English treen chess box of nailed construction, with a hinged lid opening to a void interior. The exterior bears painted inscriptions: “British Workman No.1” on the lid and “Chess Room” on the front, suggesting later adaptation or reuse. The surface shows part-worn paint and craquelure, with an aperture cut into the lid — possibly repurposed as a money box during its later life.
Originally intended to store chess pieces, this box reflects the domestic leisure culture of Georgian England, where strategic games like chess and draughts were gaining popularity. Its modest form and utilitarian build suggest it belonged to a working household, yet its survival and inscriptions offer a layered narrative of use and adaptation.
A rare survivor with excellent patina and folk art appeal, offering collectors a tactile link to late 18th-century recreation and social history.
Provenance: England. Late 18th century.
Condition: There is surface wear commensurate with age. Whilst no doubt originally used for the storage of chess pieces, the lid has had an aperture cut into it and may well have been used as a money box at some point during its later life. A further detailed condition report is available upon request.
Size: Width 21.6 cm x Depth 11.5 cm x Height 10 cm (8 1/2" x 4 1/2" x 4")
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