Lost Trades Nᵒ.16: Japanned Boxes and a Bilston Japanner's Design Book

Fig. 1.

Pages of a Bilston japanners design book from about 1761, held at the Winterthur Museum in Delaware, USA. It is thought to be from a Bilston maker as another book bought with it, from a later date, has 'Bilston' written on it. This pattern book is probably from the 1760s, though, as some of the designs (figs. 11-14) have designs celebrating the coronation of George III, which was on 22 September 1761. This is an excellent survival, as japanned boxes are liable to damage as the varnish and paint gets chipped away, so provides insight into what boxes might have looked like at this time, and many similar examples were made in Birmingham.

Lost Trades Nᵒ.8: The Painted Japan Ware of Samuel Raven (c. 1774-1847)

Self portrait of Samuel Raven, c. 1816.
Held at Birmingham Museum.

Samuel Raven (c. 1774-1847) was a painter, particularly known for adorning papier mâché snuff boxes. It is thought that he worked for the japanner Henry Clay, before branching out on his own in about 1815, although the plain papier mâché boxes were probably bought from Clay. 

He seems to have been admired for his skill, as on 21 February 1820 the following article appeared in Aris's Gazette:

His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, after having personally expressed himself to S. Raven that he was highly gratified with the Segar [sic] Case lately presented to him, was pleased to command that Portraits should be taken, by the same Artist, of his Royal Highness and the late Duke of Kent; which being now finished may be seen previous to their transmission to Kensington Palace, at Mr. Cooke's, Carver and Gilder, New Street.

Japanned Things: Well-Loved Regency Dogs, By Samuel Raven (c. 1820s)

Japanned snuffbox signed by Samuel Raven, c. 1820.
'Crib and Rosa'
Privately sold.

Object Focus: A selection of Regency boxes produced by Samuel Raven in Birmingham immortalising loyal and loving dogs. 

Japanned Things: Mrs. Honey Snuffbox by Samuel Raven (c. 1833)

Snuff box painted by Samuel Raven c. 1832-1843.
V&A Collection.

Object Focus: A japanned papier mâché snuffbox, made in Birmingham c. 1832-1843, depicting the actress Mrs. Honey. Boxes depicting actresses in dramatic roles were popular throughout the eighteenth- and nineteenth-centuries. The box itself was probably produced by Henry Clay, then bought and painted by Samuel Raven (signed).

Metal Things: Personalised Steel Boxes (mid-1700s)

Steel snuff box of James Thornton, c. 1740-1765.
Held at Birmingham Museum.

The manufacture of steel boxes was a major part of Birmingham's artisan trades from at least the 1710s. Edwards' Birmingham toyshop (a shop selling small Birmingham wares such as buckles, watchchains etc) stocked, in 1733, one dozen steel toothpick cases and nineteen steel tobacco boxes, all certainly made locally if not in Birmingham then the wider West Midland towns. These boxes would have originally been highly polished, which was an important part of their appeal.

Japanned Things: The Proposal Snuff Box by Samuel Raven (c. 1820-1840)

Japanned snuff-box by Samuel Raven, c. 1820-1840.
Private collection.

Object focus: A japanned papier mâché snuff-box, made in Birmingham c. 1820-1840, by Samuel Raven. The lid is painted with 'The Proposal: Observe her eyes; the flattering tale's believed' after George Henry Harlow (1787-1819) (below).