Gift boxes that have survived for more than two centuries have astonished collectors and antiques experts alike.
Four Georgian gift boxes, possibly relating to Valentine’s Day, are among several fascinating lots of ephemera set to go under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers on Friday, September 27.
The Georgian era lasted from 1714 to 1830 and, according to antiques experts, you don’t normally see packaging from that period.
“I’ve never seen Georgian gift boxes like this before,” said Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers. “Items like this would generally either have been thrown away at the time or discarded hundreds of years ago. This packaging has survived for around 250 years.”
The gift boxes are part of The Judith Howard Collection of Valentines, greetings cards, ephemera and mourning jewellery being sold in a specialist sale at Bishton Hall, Wolseley Bridge, Staffordshire.
Jim Spencer, Hansons’ works on paper expert, said: “Judith was a big name in the antiques world, well-known and well-respected. She had incredible knowledge and experience and was often consulted by experts, and she contributed to published reference material.
“It has been an honour and a privilege to catalogue this collection. There were boxes full of ephemera, and I could identify the earlier examples from the laid/chain-lined paper, stipple-engraved pictorial labels and text font. I must admit I have never handled such early packaging boxes, some of these being 18th century, and it is incredible that this delicate card and paper has survived – so I was a little nervous about putting a guide price on them.
“I spoke to a big collector of ephemera and packaging boxes who agreed that you ‘never see’ such early material, and he said my estimates would likely be ‘far surpassed’.
“Thanks to Judith’s discerning eye and lifelong passion, people all over the world will have the opportunity to buy these historic objects full of romance and social history.”
The delicate boxes from the Georgian era depict a couple holding hands, a mother with three children, a lady wistfully reading a letter and a woman with flowers and birds. The box with the family image opens up to reveal remnants of hair. The sale also includes several Victorian boxes used for gifts, confectionery and beauty items.
Mr Spencer said: “Lot 173 includes a tiny Victorian beauty patch box by L Panafieu of Paris, still containing patches, which were used as a beauty accessory. They were beauty spots applied to the face.
“Thanks to Judith Howard’s wonderful eye for the unusual, people have an opportunity to buy mementoes from our past full of romance and historical interest.”
Browse and bid
The Judith Howard Collection will be sold on September 27 at Bishton Hall, Wolseley Bridge, Staffordshire, ST17 0XN. To find out more, email [email protected] CLICK HERE to browse the catalogue and bid.
