1969 

A large Victorian presentation silver paint box, by Edward Edwards, London 1846, rectangular form, the hinged cover with engine-turned decoration and inscribed 'Presented by the Society of Artists Clipstone Street to Edward Duncan Esquire in token of their regard and in acknowledgment of his long and valuable services rendered to the Soc. in his capacity of Treasurer, June 1846', the interior with a hinged palette and sixteen compartments for paint and one for brushes, the underside with two hinged finger rings, length 17cm, approx. weight 10.9oz. Provenance: A Private Collection. Alastair Dickenson Ltd. Edward Duncan (21 October 1803 - 11 April 1882) was an English master painter, known for his watercolours of coastal views and shipping. He was a member of the Royal Society of Watercolours and received Royal patronage from Queen Victoria. Duncan was a prolific exhibitor of his works, showing more than 40 at the Royal Academy and the Society of British Artists, and including more than 500 watercolours and drawings within the shows of the Old and New Watercolour Societies during his career. In 1833 he was elected a member of the New Society of Painters in Water-Colours, but he resigned in 1847 and, in 1849 was elected an Associate of the Royal Watercolour Society. He died in Hampstead, London, on 11 April 1882. A sale of his works at Christie's in 1885 took three days; and a sale of 1887 lists nearly 2,000 of his sketches and paintings. Ref Wikipedia.