Pair of Antique 19th Century Penwork Display Stands

Pair of Antique 19th Century Penwork Display Stands | Faux-Calamander Faux-Bois Turned Wood Watch Tazzas, c.1860

An incredibly rare and highly collectible pair of mid-19th-century English turned display stands or watch tazzas, dating to circa 1860. Masterfully turned on a lathe from a fine-grained hardwood, these diminutive pedestals have been beautifully hand-decorated utilising the historic technique of penwork and graining to simulate highly prized calamander (or coromandel) wood. The surface boasts a rich, warm honey-brown base, meticulously hand-painted with fine, undulating charcoal and jet-black "tiger stripes" that wrap entirely around the circular tops and baluster stems, perfectly capturing the prized faux-bois aesthetic.

Each stand features a shallow, dished top with a finely raised rim, supported by an elegant, classical vase-turned column that tapers down to a stepped, circular plinth base. A key indicator of their exceptional age and authentic construction is the early, hand-cut wooden screw mechanism, allowing each pedestal to be effortlessly unscrewed into two separate components.

Dating from the mid-Victorian era, small, high-quality turned tazzas of this scale were luxury items designed for the dressing tables, library desks, or bedside cabinets of affluent households. They primarily functioned as elegant receptacles to safely hold and display a gentleman’s or lady’s pocket watch at night, or to elevate small, prized curiosities such as cameo glass, miniature portraits, or mineral specimens.

During the 19th century, exotic timbers like calamander were exceedingly scarce and expensive. This gave rise to highly skilled regional artisans specialising in deceptive graining and penwork—the art of applying fine ink and washes to domestic hardwoods to replicate rare imports. The presence of the fully integrated, hand-threaded wooden screws dates these pieces firmly to the mid-19th century, before brass threads or modern metal dowels became standard trade practice.

Today, this pair stands as a premier pair of highly decorative collectors' items. While originally conceived for pocket watches, they offer immense versatility for a contemporary curator. Standing neatly in proportion to a standard wine bottle (as shown in reference photography), they are the perfect scale to elevate micro-antiques, jewelry, or small sculptural objects on a vanity or mantelpiece. Their bold, graphic grain and minimalist, architectural form allow them to double as standalone works of historic decorative art, making them highly sought after by collectors of rare Victorian treen, folk art, and early decorative finishes.

Condition Report

Presented in excellent antique condition, maintaining a beautiful, dry historic luster and an unaltered surface finish.

Both stands are structurally stable and sound. The early wooden screw threads remain in remarkable condition, fitting together smoothly and securing the tops firmly to the bases without any wobble or cross-threading. One base has a slight twist.

The hand-painted faux-calamander surface displays a magnificent, deep natural patination. There are no structural cracks or splits to the delicate turned rims or stepped bases. The penwork decoration shows honest, minor historic wear and softening to the high-contact areas, wholly consistent with luxury vanity items of this age and adding immensely to their authentic character.

Measurements

Height:              30 cm /      11.8 inch

Width:               11 cm /       4.3 inch

Depth:               11 cm /       4.3 inch

Weight:             0.2 k.g. /    0.3 lbs