Watercolor box.

"Rudolph Ackermann senior (qv) began business in the Strand in the 1790s as a publisher, printseller, stationer and manufacturer of watercolours. By 1815, he had given his eldest son, Rudolph Ackermann junior (1793-1868), responsibility for manufacturing the business's watercolour paints (advertisement insert for Repository of Arts, vol.14, July 1815, kindly communicated by John Ford). In 1825 he helped his son set up in business at 191 Regent St. Rudolph junior came to concentrate on publishing sporting and military prints."--Simon, Jacob. British artists' suppliers, 1650-1950. The junior Ackermann's shop was named the Eclipse Sporting Gallery from 1829.
Restricted fragile material. Use requires permission of the Curator of Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Mahogany watercolor box, manufactured by Rudolph Ackermann junior, London, between 1825 and 1829. The box includes original brass hinges and lock; a metal key is also present. The underside of the box lid bears a stipple-engraved label, on pink paper: "R. Ackermann Junr., book & printseller, and manufacturer of superfine water colours to His Majesty, 191 Regent Street, London." The image in the bottom half of the label depicts London (including St. Paul's Cathedral and Waterloo Bridge) flanked by a pair of putti, the one at left in the midst of drawing (with paint pallette nearby), the one at right with a sack and Caduceus.
The underside of the box lid could also be used as a small easel. A wooden lip at the foot of the lid and two metal clasps (painted gold) nearer the top of the lid could be used to hold an item to be painted.
The box is divided into three rows of compartments. The top row includes 10 slots for small paint jars and 2 larger slots, one of which includes a jar of varnish (?). The 10 jars of paint colors, all with cork stoppers and printed labels ("Ackermann's ... glass colour") comprise: Lake, Prussian Blue, Bn. Pink, Black, Imperial Blue, Yellow Lake, Yellow, Burnt Sienna, Van Dyke Brown, and Verdigrise.
The middle row includes a removable tin (?) mixing tray and a glass muller.
The narrow bottom row includes: a wooden-handled brush with twine ferrule and stiff bristles; a partial quill brush with black bristles; a graphite pencil stamped in blind "Jos. Myers"; and a metal key. A printed label is affixed to the base of the row: "R. Ackermann, jun., manufacturer of superfine water-colours to His Majesty, no. 191, Regent-Street, begs leave to recommend his colours, as being prepared with the utmost care and attention. They may be had in single cakes, or in boxes of all sizes, either with large or small cakes. Also rudiments, drawing-books with instructions, and every requisite of drawing."