Minton Porcelain Heart-shaped Box, Circa 1875

Description

Simply stunning, and rare. If you have a passion for antiques, as we do, chances are you can’t help but imagine the backstory behind your favorite finds. Imagine a snow-covered England, Christmas Eve 1875.  Surely there was a love story unfolding inside the cozy three-story home where twenty-year-old Rebecca Hawthorne nestled in a velvet armchair, her heart fluttering as she awaited her beloved’s arrival. The air was rich with the scents of pine and gingerbread, embodying the warmth of the season.

As the clock chimed eight, Edward Sinclair stepped in, cheeks aglow from the cold, a bouquet of holly in hand. “Merry Christmas, my dear Rebecca!” he called, his presence lighting up the room.

Her heart swelled as he sat by the glowing fire, but his expression soon turned serious. With a tender smile, he reached into his frock coat and revealed a delicate heart-shaped porcelain box adorned with mistletoe. Breathless with anticipation, Rebecca watched as Edward opened it to unveil a radiant ring. As he slipped it onto her finger, it symbolized a promise of love—and the box and its mistletoe a forever reminder of romance and the magic of Christmas.

About this piece: Sure to be a cherished heirloom for another young couple … or perhaps a couple celebrating a milestone anniversary, this beautiful piece was created in 1875 by Europe’s leading ceramics manufacturer of the time – Minton – and retailed by the most important china retailer in London at the time – John Mortlock, Oxford Street and Orchard Street, London.

Provenance: Curated by Nick Boston Antiques.