A RARE AND COMPLETE VICTORIAN “EDUCATIONAL” COMPENDIUM

Here we have a rare and most unusual item: a Victorian BOX OF EDUCATIONAL CURIOS. The simple pine (and perhaps innocuous) case opens to reveal inside, four trays, each filled with a large number of items each within their own individual trays. The objects range from quite normal everyday items (such as scissors; carpet samples; acorns and some insects) to scarce examples of unusual objects (such as bottles of Indian wheat; Pearl Barley; Lead Shot and Shellac etc). The total number of specimens is in excess of 160…a fascinating collection of interesting items of the Victorian period. The box measures: 41 x 22.5 x 15cms (16 x 9 x 6ins). circa 1870-90.

** These unusual and now very scarce boxes were professionally produced for use in schools. They would be shown to pupils many of whom had never seen such interesting items “in the flesh”, thus providing (one assumes) very welcome relief from the the daily grind of learning multiplication tables by rote, and the endless practice of learning to write.