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Description:
Ref: 884WB      http://hygra.com/box/884WB 

Brass edged and inlayed kingwood veneered writing box by T Lund, with Bramah type lock, opening to an embossed leather writing surface (original), compartments for inkwells and pens lined with ebony. The writing flap has a separate lock  and opens to a rare lift-out tray. When the tray is removed there is a compartment for papers. A sprung panel conceals three secret drawers hidden under the ink and pen compartments. There is great attention to detail and the box is made and finished to the highest quality. The box has a rare pair of candle sticks.

Origin: UK; MFR: T Lund London;  Circa:1820 ; Materials: Kingwood Mahogany, ebony brass.
Size: 40.5 cm wide by 25.2 cm by 24.3 cm:  16 inches wide by  10 inches by  5.6 inches.

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

Keywords: Hygra.com, Antique box, writing box, kingwood, ebony, candle sticks, Muckleston, Bramah lock, T Lund, 1820, secret drawers,

Request current  list of available sewing boxes with prices.
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Inside the box has a luxurious quality. The lift-out pen tray and the compartments for the inkwells are  ebony which contrasts with the iridescence of the kingwood,

The gold tooled and blind-embossed writing surface is original.

The candle sticks are original.

The flap has its own lock.

The box retains two original inkwells one with its silver top. 

The figure of the kingwood of the front is striking. The kingwood tree being narrow it is made from three pieces of wood. It is about 1.2 mm thick.

The brass edges are held in place by brass pins which are ground flat with the surface.

 

The box retains a "T Lund" label on the inside of the flap.

Brass screws for this purpose seem to have been first used about 1800. Before that iron screws were used. 

The finely blind and gold embossed leather writing surface is original.

"Lund, Thomas, 56 and 57 Cornhill, London, portable desk manufacturer, cutler and dressing case maker (1819-39), In 1819 declared himself to be a 'cutler, manufacturer of portable desks, pens &quills, importer of filtering stones'. Two tortoise-shell tea caddies are known marked with this makers stamp. One with a domed rectangular lid and ivory feet is marked 'Lund, Maker, 57 Cornhill London' and the other an octagonal one, is stamped on the inside ivory rim 'LUND CORNHILL ST"

 

LUND Thomas, 56 and 57 Cornhill, London, produced work of high quality, straddling the period between the Regency and the Victorian period.

Boxes from Thomas Lund seem to have a special quality which has a refinement without over elaboration. The interiors of their boxes are meticulously finished, with the fabrics (when used) coordinated with flair. Everything opens and shuts well.

Below are listed some other boxes by Thomas Lund we have handled:

1. Quality writing box veneered in rosewood and inlaid with brass stringing. Thomas Lund. C. 1825.

2. Fine sewing box veneered in rosewood, brass stringing. Silk covered interior.Thomas.C.1825.

3. Dressing box veneered in coromandel with rounded brass surround and two thin lines of stringing. Side drawer for jewelry has silk cover. Interior fitted with velvet and gold tooled leather. Nicely engraved silver tops on the bottles by Francis Douglas, London 1841. Thomas. Another almost identical box with maker's name on brass plaque.

5. Coromandel veneered sewing box with fine inlay in brass and mother of pearl. Thomas.

6. Important Regency brass edged and inlaid writing box with double layered secret compartments and drawers
http://hygra.com/uk/wb2/wb429

 

http://hygra.com/uk/sb/SB121

Please click on image or link for detailed webpage.

ref SB121: A rare fully fitted tortoiseshell sewing box of rectangular form and shaped top by Thos' Lund of Cornhill, having ivory facings, silvered hinges and lock, mother of pearl escutcheon and name plate engraved "Mrs. Brown". Inside there is a liftout tray with green and blue silk coverings and supplementary lids containing turned and carved mother of pearl spools (8) and other sewing tools. The inside the lid is covered in ruched blue silk framed with a smooth silk border and contains a document wallet in the lid. Circa 1820.

 

The lift-out pen tray and the compartments for the inkwells are  ebony which contrasts with the iridescence of the kingwood,

The attention to detail is amazing.

The box retains two original inkwells one with its silver top. 

 

The box retains two original inkwells one with its silver top. 

Accessing the Secrets

The secret drawers are concealed behind  a sprung panel of solid mahogany.

It  is released by taking out the inkwell and squeezing the wall of the box between the thumb and index finger.

 

The pulls are turned ebony.

Detail of the back of the panel. once again the screws are lined up! The hole is to accommodate the pull handle of one of the secret drawers.

The original drawers are of  dovetail construction.

The box has two original 19th C keys.  The Bramah key is for the main lock the other, simpler key locks the flap.

The Liftout pen tray is crafted from solid ebony.

The ebony is not just black but has areas of gold in contrast. 

It is a dense wood and only needs to be smooth  to sheen.

 Detail showing the construction of the writing flaps. The flaps have a main central piece of wood flanked by two further pieces of wood. They are joined using a tongue and groove joint shown in the photo. on the upper surface 

When not in use the candle sticks can be stored in a special section of the lift-out tray.

The Bramah type lock is in working order.  The lock plate is marked "W. MUCKLESTON PATENT".. I have seen this on other Bramah type locks of the period, but have been unable to find any information on Muckleston other than he stamped locks.

Joseph Bramah took out his patent for the   Bramah Lock  in 1784.  At this date the patent had expired.

Several of Bramah's apprentices made locks on their own account. 

For further information on Bramah locks:

www.hygra.com/locks/Bramah/index.htm

  Opening Antique Bramah Box Locks

Back.

Kingwood trees are narrow. The top is veneered with three pieces joined. 

It is inlaid with brass stringing and escutcheon.

Underside.

The brass edgings are held in place by pins which are ground flat with the surface.

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