A South Staffordshire commemorative patch box

A South Staffordshire commemorative patch box, dated 1800, commemorating the Union of Great Britain and Ireland, printed and coloured with two Classical maidens shaking hands before a brick pyramid, inscribed 'Great Britain & Ireland Unite' above the date '1800', raised on a pink base, restored, 5.7cm.

Provenance: from the estate of the late Barry Lock.

The Union Act that came into effect on 1st January 1801 was brought about to try and stop Ireland from uniting against Britain with revolutionary France.