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The Card Case Forum, 2009
The development of Tunbridge ware
'Tunbridge ware' has become synonymous with the form of mosaic decoration developed in the late 1820s; long before this Tunbridge ware was recognised as a distinctive form of treen consisting of undecorated turnery and then painted articles.
In the 1820s James Burrows invented the twin techniques of stickware and half-square mosaic , this lead him shortly after to the development of the mosaic technique that we most associate with Tunbridge ware. This new technique proved very versatile and was quickly adopted by other makers such as George Wise and Edmund Nye.
The mosaic technique
To produce mosaic veneers, patterns were worked out on squared paper; the design was then either transposed onto an enlarged chart or instructions were written out. The different coloured woods were then prepared as long narrow pieces (slips) (see top right).
'Tunbridge ware' has become synonymous with the form of mosaic decoration developed in the late 1820s; long before this Tunbridge ware was recognised as a distinctive form of treen consisting of undecorated turnery and then painted articles.
In the 1820s James Burrows invented the twin techniques of stickware and half-
The mosaic technique
To produce mosaic veneers, patterns were worked out on squared paper; the design was then either transposed onto an enlarged chart or instructions were written out. The different coloured woods were then prepared as long narrow pieces (slips) (see top right).
By selecting slips of different wood and gluing them together, the bandmaker could form a block which could then be sliced to create slips of various patterns. These were glued together to form blocks (see bottom right).
A wide variety of woods was used. Up to 150 were available, although only about 40 were in regular use, including the remarkable 'green oak', produced locally by the action of a fungus on fallen logs.
In decline
By 1903, the great days of Tunbridge ware were over. Public taste changed, and the great Victorian craftsmen found few competent successors.
After 1903 there was only one surviving firm, that of Boyce, Brown and Kemp, whose later work was sometimes of poor quality. After changing hands three times the company was finally forced to close in 1927.
A wide variety of woods was used. Up to 150 were available, although only about 40 were in regular use, including the remarkable 'green oak', produced locally by the action of a fungus on fallen logs.
In decline
By 1903, the great days of Tunbridge ware were over. Public taste changed, and the great Victorian craftsmen found few competent successors.
After 1903 there was only one surviving firm, that of Boyce, Brown and Kemp, whose later work was sometimes of poor quality. After changing hands three times the company was finally forced to close in 1927.