Colonial Jamaican Satinwood Box with Pierced Silver Mounts, with Slavery Connections

This fine colonial box, which dates to the 18th century, has an exterior of fine-grained, polished Jamaican satinwood. The interior is of sandalwood which still retains a strong sandalwood smell.

The mounts are of pierced, high-grade silver and held in place with tiny silver tacks. Two solid-cast silver handles are on either side.

The sandalwood has a wonderful, golden patina which contrasts beautifully with the silver corner guards and so on.

The top is hinged and has a central silver plaque that is finely engraved with the arms of the Lawrence and De Aguilar families.

A handwritten note inside the box says that the box once belonged to Charles Lawrence, who was a former mayor of Liverpool in 1823. The family had business interests in Jamaica. The port of Liverpool and Jamaica were closely connected by the triangle sea trade to Africa which involved the shipment of sugar, salves and other commodities. One of the interests of the family was Fairfield Estate in St James, Jamaica, which produced sugar, molasses, rum, coffee and livestock.

Charles Lawrence part-inherited 199 slaves from the Fairfield Estate when his father died shortly before the abolition of slavery. The British government paid out compensation to former slave owners for the loss and Charles shared this with his mother.

The interior is fitted with fine compartments and drawers all in sandalwood and with silver ring cover pulls. The internal compartment pulls out and on each side beneath are two drawers.

A lock is present but the key no longer is. The box itself is in fine condition, and the satinwood has a superb, honeyed patina.