Georgian inlaid flame mahogony knife box canteen with fitted interior

A wonderful George III inlaid knife box with a serpentine front and fitted interior. The inside lid is centred with an inlaid oval paterae of radiating segments in various woods; it is bordered throughout with banded stringing. The hinged lid opens to reveal an inlaid interior with the original fitted slotted tray for holding and displaying silver cutlery upright.

This is an excellent and superbly crafted piece of furniture, made by a cabinet maker from rich and exotic hardwoods. Such canteens were displayed on sideboards of aristocratic households to display the family silver and wealth to visiting guests! This example retains the original fitted interior, a rare feature as most were converted to stationary boxes by later generations.

OBJECT: Knife-Box Canteen

CULTURE: Georgian

DATE: c. 1780 - 1800 AD

MATERIAL: Boxwood, Ebony, Mahogany and various coloured wood inlay

SIZE: 15" x 19" ( 38cm x 23cm)

PROVENANCE: From a private collection in Leighton Buzzard