Hygra: Antique Brass Bound Solid Mahogany triple Opening Writing Box With Side Drawer and secret drawers Circa 1840

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Antique Brass Bound Solid Mahogany triple Opening Writing Box With Side Drawer and secret drawers Circa 1840

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Description:
Ref: 868WB http://hygra.com/box/868WB

Brass bound solid mahogany triple opening writing box of dovetail construction in the military style with countersunk carrying handles. The lid has a blind and gold embossed Morocco leather document wallet. There is a large side drawer secured by a brass pin through the facing. There are two period inkwells with a special design to avoid leaks. Beneath the pen tray and inkwells there are three secret drawers with turned and carved mother of pearl pulls concealed behind a sprung panel which is released by pressing the side of the box.

Origin: UK; Circa: 1840 ; Materials: Mahogany, Brass leather.

Size: 50.5 cm wide by 26 cm by 18.6 cm: 19.9 inches wide by 10.2 inches by 7.3 inches.

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

Keywords: Hygra.com, Antique box, traveling desk, writing box, secret drawers, brass inlay, lap desk, Military style, Campaign box, embossed leather,

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The edges have been rounded.

The brass corners are unusual. The shape is particularly pleasing.

The brass is not just decorative and protective but is in-fact part of the structure. It holds the box together,

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The lid which opens up has a document wallet and ten small pockets for notes.

The leatherwork which is all original is exceptional. It is decorated with both gilt and blind tooled embossing.

The lock escutcheon is inlaid.

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The lid is in three main sections.

The central section is a document wallet.

The small pockets are presumably for aid memoir.

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The document wallet is made with leather.

There are compartments for inkwells and wax wafers.

The inkwells employ special screw lids to avoid leaks.

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The leather writing surface is original

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There are compartments for papers beneath the writing surfaces.

There are secret drawers hidden beneath the writing accessories.

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The sprung panel is released by pressing the side of the box just in front of the panel.

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There are three drawers with mother of pearl pulls.

Detail of the inside of the panel showing the steel spring.

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The mother of pearl pulls on the secret drawers are both turned and carved.

Corner detail. The full blind dovetail is as tight as when first glued.

A rounded bead has been run along the edges.

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There are compartments for papers beneath the writing surfaces.

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The side drawer provides more space for papers.

It is retained by a brass pin through the facing.

The countersunk brass carrying handles are of a full form than that of earlier in the century.

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The drawer is constructed with half blind dovetails to the front.

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The perfect corner join circa 1840

the box is made from solid mahogany. The miter to the facing and then a line parallel with the front indicate that inside there is a full blind dovetail joint .

The dovetail joint is one of the wonders of woodwork. In the full blind none of the careful work is visible. If the joint is simply mitered it will not survive atmospheric change. A mitered joint is end grain to end grain. The glue soaks in, becomes dry and brittle and falls apart.

The dovetail joint enables side grain to be glued to side grain. These joints would hold together without glue!

It is the true proof of these dovetail joints made by craftsmen 200 years ago that their joints are as they made them.

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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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