A fine Late 19th Century Antique English Victorian Sand Bell from the Isle of Wight's Alum Bay containing two named sand pictures of Carisbrooke Castle and The Needles. Filling a glass shape with layers of Alum Bay’s twenty one shades of sand has been a tradition since the mid-1800s when Queen Victoria was presented with a special souvenir. In the wake of the development of Britain’s Victorian railway system and the era of mass travel and seaside holidays that this stimulated, the market for such souvenirs blossomed. cf. For comparison, take a look at the very similar sand picture held in the collection of The National Trust at Calke Abbey, Derbyshire, Ref NT 285064
Height ~ 19.00 cm. / 7.50 inches ~ Width ~ 9.50 cm. / 3.75 inches ~ Depth ~ 9.50 cm. / 3.75 inches ~ Year ~ Circa 1875
