Wells & Lambe Dressing Box

A brass bound rosewood Dressing Case with brass carrying handle to the top engraved Major Tylden.

The interior is lined in a blue green velvet and originally would probably have had a removable mirror to the lid interior and a tray etc. to take shaving equipment, brushes and other sundry items. The maker's paper label of Wells & Lambe is fixed to the lid interior and gives their addresses of 26 Cockspur Street and 44 New Bond Street. They enjoyed a good reputation for their work and counted the Duke of Wellington and a number of Royals amongst their customers.

The top of the box has a good, brass campaign handle which is engraved Major Tylden. This is likely to be William Tylden but with no initial or regiment engraved we cannot be sure.

Assuming the box belonged to William Tylden, it can be dated to between 1814 and 1827, the year he became a Major and Wells & Lambe's final year at their New Bond Street address. It's unlikely Richard owned it as the oldest he could have been at the time of purchase was 8.

This is a well made box, which is to be expected of the makers. Circa 1820.

William Tyden
Tyden enlisted in the Royal Engineers on the 19th of November 1806. He became a Captain in 1813 and a Brevet Major on the 23rd June 1814 before rising to be a Regiment Lieutenant Colonel in 1837. He had a long career which saw him fight in both the Napoleonic and the Crimean Wars. He was promoted to Brigadier General of the Royal Engineers for the Eastern Expedition and his son Brevet Major Richard Tylden served on his staff. William died from cholera in September 1854 just after taking part in the Battle of the Alma. Richard died at sea from his wounds shortly after leaving the Crimea in July 1855.