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Antique Brass bound Traveling Desk by J. Bramah circa 1815 

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Description:
Ref: 864 WB   http://hygra.com/box/864WB-Bramah/ 

Solid mahogany brass bound writing box/ traveling desk, in the campaign/military style, with secure Bramah lock. Inside, under one of the flaps, the box is labeled by Joseph  Bramah and was probably sold  from his shop in Piccadilly. The lock is stamped J.Bramah with a crown.
Inside there are compartments for writing needs: pens and inkwells.  The inkwells are period. The secret drawers can be accessed only when the lock is locked and a rod is inserted pressing levers. 

Origin: UK;  Circa: 1815; Materials: mahogany, brass .

Size: 55.6 cm 28 wide by cm by 17.1 cm:  22  inches wide by 11   inches by  6.7  inches.

Condition: good overall; working lock and key; see images

Keywords: Hygra.com, Antique box, Bramah lock, Bramah Label, 5 slider, Secret drawers, dovetail construction, Piccadilly

Request current  list of available sewing boxes with prices.
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The desk is constructed with solid mahogany and has brass held in place by small pins. The wood is joined with dovetail joins.

Joseph Bramah 

was born in in 1748 into a Yorkshire farming family. When he was 16, an accident left him lame. Unable to continue farm work he was apprenticed to the village carpenter. 

He came to London as a journeyman cabinetmaker . 

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The escutcheon is part of the lock.  

 

The lock-plate is stamped J.Bramah with a crown.

 

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The box is labeled on the inside of the flap:  

" J. BRAMAH & SON,
Patent-Engine, Lock & Press,
MANUFACTURERS.
West end of Piccadilly
--LONDON. --
Portable Desks, Boxes &c. "

Bramah opened his shop at 124 Piccadilly in 1784. 

It was at the time 14 Piccadilly. He lived there with his wife Mary Lawton who he married the year before.

See:  http://www.hygra.com/locks/Bramah/ 

 

 

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The secret drawers are accessed by locking the lock and inserting a rod through the lock.

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The sprung panel which conceals the secret drawers in the closed position.

As well as the  places for inkwells there is a concave pen tray and two lidded compartments. The lids are veneered with coromandel ebony and have inlaid brass lines and turned brass pulls. 

Unusually for this date  the inside has been finished with  a shellac spirit varish. 

 

Inside the panel there is the spring and the catch. All the screws point in the same direction.
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The box has countersunk brass carrying handles. They are of skeletal form which was only employed at the beginning of  19th C. The handles are secured by iron screws which have been ground flat o the surface.

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In this image the catch is visible. It is connected to the opening mechanism by levers by the rod inserted through  the lock.
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In this image the catch is visible. It is connected to the opening mechanism by levers by the rod inserted through  the lock.

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The secret drawers are of dovetail construction.

 

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In this picture the front of the compartment has been removed.

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The various parts of the lock have been cast and milled. The circular lines indicate lathe finishing.

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 The lock is stamped J.Bramah with a crown.

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The sides of the lock are  and turned. Two registration pins have been let in.

It has been stamped BB.

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The back of the front plate also has the "BB" stamp.
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The lock has five sliders.

 

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Without the lock in place the hole for the rod which triggers the secret drawers is vizible.  

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The lids are veneered with coromandel. The turned brass pulls are unusual as is the raised brass line.

More usually if there are inlaid brass lines they are ground flat with the surface. 

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The box has two associated period inkwells. This example is Sheffield plate. 

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The inkwell has hinged  lid which is secured and tightened with screw catch.

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The other inkwell has ground sides  to the bottle and a screw lid.

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There are compartments for papers under the writing surface.
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The flaps are constructed from three pieces of wood joined with tongue and grooves. 
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The other lock plate is made from steel.

 

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The box has countersunk brass carrying handles. They are of skeletal form which was only employed at the beginning of  19th C. The handles are secured by iron screws which have been ground flat o the surface.

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When it is used the handles fold out from the box.

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The facings are inlaid with brass. This further strengthens the corners. The surface ground brass pins which help to hold the brass are just visible. 

 

The surface ground brass pins which help to hold the brass are just vizible.

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All text and images and linked images are © 1999-2015 Antigone Clarke and Joseph O'Kelly. If you require any further information on permitted use, or a licence to republish any material, email us at copyright@hygra.com

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