Carlton Hobbs Blog: Tail of a Peacock

October 8 2009, 4:00pm

Things are not always what they seem, and nothing could be truer than when looking at this early 19th century sewing box in the elaborate form of a peacock. Standing at just over 5 1/2 feet tall, the piece initially looks like an intricately carved and inlaid wooden sculpture of a peacock standing on a hexagonal base. But on further inspection one finds that the peacock’s neck and head drop forward to reveal a workbox with two drawers containing silver gilt sewing tools. The tail can also be removed to reveal a pincushion. Another drawer is concealed at the top of the hexagonal base which contains spools of thread. A door in the base opens to reveal a plain interior with a further drawer at the bottom.