This is a Victorian, Scottish Mauchline Ware box in the scarce Victorian Illustration Ware finish, with an interior advertising label for J & P Coats sewing thread, and dating to around 1890.

The box is finished in a matt black lacquer & is constructed using 'tongue and lap' joints, with two hinges to the rear (the hinges are the less common, non decorative hinges, where only the interlocking joints are visible from the outside).

The box has rounded edges, which is extremely unusual in Mauchline Ware boxes, & a chromolithographic illustration to the lid depicting a line of men in top hats & wearing sandwich boards, which are advertising a pantomime. The base is covered in a green 'morocco' paper.

The box is opened via a decorative catch to the front, to reveal an unlined interior with a 'J & P COATS' label to the lid. The label has an illustration of the Coats' cotton mills (in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland) & reads 'FERGUSLIE THREAD WORKS' - J & P COATS - SEWING COTTON MANUFACTURERS - PAISLEY'.

Condition is good, the 'thumb press' part of the catch is missing (which tends to be the norm on Victorian Mauchline boxes), there are remnants of a small sticker on the interior label, & general, but very light, age related wear - fine for it's 120 years.

The box measures approx 4 7/8" long, 3 1/4" wide, & 2 1/4" deep (approx 12.5cm, 8.3cm, & 5.7cm).