Halcyon Days Bilston & Battersea Floral Potpourri Enamel Box

Collectibles : Enamel Box : Bilston & Battersea : Halcyon Days

 

This beautiful little enamel over copper potpourri box with a screw on lid was produced by Bilston & Battersea Enamels in England. The craft of enameling over copper to produce small boxes used for snuff or ladies beauty marks (known as patches) was popular in the 1700's but passed out of favor by the early 1800's. Susan Benjamin, owner of Halcyon Days, an antique store in London, spearheaded the revival of the craft and produced the first Bilston & Battersea Enamels designed by Halcyon Days in 1970. In 1980, the name was changed to Halcyon Days Enamels. The beautiful little boxes have become extremely collectible and continue to be produced. This box was one of the original Bilston & Battersea boxes from the 1970's, and is marked such on the bottom. The box closes with a screw on lid which has 12 holes in the lid so the lovely potpourri aroma can permeate the air. The brass bezels have an aged patina. There are two small spots about the size of a pin head on the sides of the lid's bezel were there is slight corrosion. otherwise, the enamel box is in excellent condition. The interior is white. It measures 2.5" wide and 2.25" tall. No presentation box available. According to Susan Benjamin in her book, The First 25 Years of Halcyon Days Enamels, "Between 1972 and 1987 we were honoured to be granted their [the British Royal Family] royal warrants as the first ever 'Suppliers of Objects d'Art' and one of just ten firms to hold all four royal warrants."

Item ID: 1408