Asian Wise Man Battersea Enamel Box

This is a superb larger box made in England - probably in the South Staffordshire region - in the late 18th century. Probably in the Bilston area or possibly Birmingham or even London but definitely English from the 1700s. They are famous for their Battersea enamel boxes, etc. Not sure if this would be considered a patch box or tabatiere / snuff / pill box but either way it is a fun and unusual piece! Larger than many one sees. The box is decorated on the outside lid with a superb hand painted portrait of a Chinese / Asian wise man which I ahve never seen before on an English piece like this. The gentleman is dressed in his traditional robes, has the typical bald head and long beard and those funky long finger nails which are meant to show you are wealthy and beyond manual labor! It is a really well done scene! The sides of the box each have some nice floral arrangements hand painted on them with some also having a separate single flower and/or bug next to the flowers. The box has a ribbed sort of design to the sides which gives it a nicer look than just flat sides. The bottom has a transfer print in an iron red sort of color of a male and female character likely a god and godess from some mythology story though I am not sure which one. It's a nicely done and very detailed print. The metal mounts are unusual. They are still golden all around so I don't think they are a gold wash over copper. Some areas are dull but when I scratch a bit in those spots it is golden undeneath again. I think they are gold maybe a lower grade but it looks to be gold rather than a gold wash! I cleaned them up and had them tested and it partially dessolved at 10K so it is a lower grade Gold. Either way it gives it a more distinguished look than the usual mounts one finds on these pieces for sure! The inside of the box lid has a mottled green and white design to it which I have not seen. All in all a spectacular example! The box is in great condition with a bit of damage to the inside back right hand top corner as shown and the outside corner edges have some minor issues to them with one spot of yellowed fill as shown. The lid does not snap shut nor does it look like it ever did. The bottom seems slightly bigger than the top mounts by a tiny margin but enough for it not to close. Not obvious when on display and can probably be fixed easily if need be. A black spot in the scene on the udnerside as shown. It's an amazing example and quite unusual with the portrait on the top! The box is 1.625 inches tall, 3.125 inches wide and 2.5 inches deep. Please email me for more information or other pictures.