Birmingham interest: A fine mid 19th century rosewood collector's cabinet, the moulded...

Birmingham interest: A fine mid 19th century rosewood collector's cabinet, the moulded rectangular top centre by an inset bronze or brass plaque engraved "PRESENTED TO THE SOCIETY OF ARTS BY SIR EDW'D THOMASON, KN. 1849", the front having a pair of brass-lined glazed doors enclosing two columns each of twenty-seven shallow drawers each with brass number and knob handle, on bun feet, 30" x 16.75" x 39.5" (76cm x 42.5cm x 100cm).

Sir Edward Thomason (1769-1849) was apprenticed to Matthew Boulton at the age of sixteen. In 1793 he took over his father's premises in St. Phillip's Square. In 1802 he patented a new design for a corkscrew, and this proved hugely successful with 130,000 examples made by 1818. Thomason's factory also successfully patented and made extending toasting forks, sword sticks and mining tokens, which became especially pertinent during the currency shortages of 1806/7 in the midst of the Napoleonic Wars.
After branching out into close-plated flatware, Thomason evolved into silver production and entered his mark at the Birmingham Assay Office in 1815. His most famous production of this period was a facsimile of the Warwick Vase, for which he issued a bronze medallion in 1820.
With his success came recognition in the form of Civic honours: High Bailiff of Birmingham in 1818, Vice-Consul for Birmingham to nine countries (including Russia, Prussia, France and Spain) 1830-38, and finally a Knighthood awarded by William IV in 1832. Having written his memoirs in 1845, he retired to Warwick and died there in 1849. His body was buried in the family tomb in St. Phillip's Church.