Art Deco Silver Trinket Box, Watch Box by Mappin & Webb

An absolute gem of a ‘thirties’ table cigarette box from Mappin & Webb that reflects the Art Deco influences of the decade, perhaps more useful today as a watch box for those wonderful timepieces. It has an interesting presentation engraving to the front panel. In this case, I believe it is the inscription that should grab people’s interest in this piece of social history. It simply says; “A token of gratitude and appreciation to Miss E. S. Parkinson from a few friends of the Board of Management of the Kent and Canterbury Hospital. April 22nd 1939” In part I believe this will be the case because the hospital existed for 200 years from 1790 through to 1990. Moreover, with a little research I have learnt that after much debate, 12th July 1935 saw the first foundation stone of the new hospital laid by the Duke of Kent. Subsequent to that, on 14 July 1937, the new hospital was officially opened by the Duke and Duchess of Kent. From then on, the pace picked up at the hospital when from 1939 – 1945 the hospital became integral to Emergency Medical Service, admitting Australian, British, Canadian, French Moroccan and Polish soldiers. So, it seems to me that the much-respected Miss E. S. Parkinson must surely have had a significant role in one or all of these high-profile initiatives. Unfortunately, with the quirks of the National Archives and a bonfire of records that appears to happened when the NHS took over the hospital, I have not been able to make not much more progress as yet. So, whether you would treasure this wonderful item because of its; practical use, scarlet red silk interior, its history, the mysterious Miss Parkinson, or perhaps a more personal reason - I really hope we can find the right home for this object and all that it stands for.