Small Tunbridgeware Panel of Rabbit

This little panel (5 cms x 3 cms) was probably designed to go on the side of a needle case, hinged to a rear panel, with the cloth interior for needles and pins. It displays a rabbit nibbling on a piece of vegetation, on a light ground with two tesserae bands to left and right. The rear of the panel appears to be of mahogany. It has a plain edging. It is an unusual survivor and an interesting piece which is quite out of the ordinary. Rabbits in tesserae don’t appear to be the best subjects for manufacturers of Tunbridgeware as they never seem to result in a clear image. This is a good example. The small lines to the top and bottom of the image are where there had been a ribbon threaded through, not an original incorporation. These are better seen in the picture of the rear of the panel. Happily, these marks do not adversely affect the image. This item is just lightly polished.