Strictly speaking, this isn't a travel question, but I thought that, since this comes from an English novel (A Room With a View), someone from that part of the world might know. It's from chapter 2, when Miss Lavish abandons Lucy exclaiming, "There goes my local-colour box! I must have a word with him." As this takes place in 19th century Italy, someone who is familiar with that country might also know. Web searches have proven fruitless. Thanks for any help!

Local color would mean people, things, surroundings, etc., that are typical of the local culture. I suppose a local-color box would refer literally or figuratively to something that reminds the speaker of the local culture.

I agree. A "watercolour box" refers to one of those metal or wood boxes filled with watercolours (or watercolors, if you prefer!). So this was Miss Lavish's little witticism -- referring to the character as a source of local colour comparable to a paintbox as a source of paint.

Wow; I am so dense... I've read RWAV at least 3 times, probably 4 or 5, and I never makde the connection between local-colour box and a paint box. duh

Thanks KT... I will next read it with new understanding.

The minute I saw the header I knew you were reading RMAV. I love love love that book, and always take a copy with me to Italy to read AGAIN during my trip.

I suppose KT is right. I did think of watercolors when I was trying to figure it out.

Still, there is something clumsy about this witticism that keeps me from being 100% convinced there's not more to it.