A Curious Victorian Petrified Basket of Fruit, Nuts and Flowers (1800 to 1900 England)

17.00cm wide 15.00cm high 11.00cm deep (6.69 inches wide5.91 inches high4.33 inches deep)

cf Finch and Co catalogue no.5, item no. 19, for a petrified birds nest and catalogue no. 8, item no. 8, for a petrified basket of flowers.

Formed by means of a calcareous deposit dripping through tufa from the roof of a well these man made curiosities were created in Matlock, Derbyshire in the early 19th century as Victorian souvenirs.
Of the three petrifying wells Mr Joseph Pearson’s was the largest, and after Princess Victoria’s visit of 1832 became known as the ‘Royal Petrifying Well’. All three wells produced a marvellous profusion of petrified objects ranging from stags heads to wigs and birds nests.

A Curious Victorian Petrified Basket of Fruit, Nuts and Flowers
19th Century

Size: 15cm high, 17cm wide, 11cm deep – 6 ins high, 6¾ ins wide, 4¼ ins