Description:
WB 144 Mahogany late 18th century writing box the top inlaid with maple inlay depicting a patera and edged with a cross banding in laburnum to the top. The box has drop side handles and a side drawer for papers. Inside there is a leather covered writing surface and further compartments for papers and writing implements. The box also has a riser mechanism to enable it to be used as a reading stand/ lectern.  circa 1790.

Origin: UK 

Circa: 1790.

Size: 51.3 cm by 26.8 cm by 16 cm: 20.2 inches by 10.5 inches by 6.3 inches.

Condition:  good overall, however this box has been used and is an early writing box. There are little repairs. one of the flaps have been re-enforced by having a piece of cloth glued to it.  See images.

Detail:  the top is edged with a cross banding in laburnum and light and dark wood lines.

The box has a central inlay to the top depicting a stylized patera. The inlay is executed in maple which has been shaded by scorching. This process was often done by dipping the elements in hot sand.

The patera motif in its various forms was an abstraction of a shallow dish used in the classical world for offering libations.

Most writing boxes of this era  were for military use and were either simple or brass inlaid. Decorative inlay is very rare.

 

The box also has a riser mechanism to enable it to be used as a reading stand/ lectern.

The drop side handles are a feature of early boxes.

 There are compartments for storing pens.

Dovetail joints:

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.

This image is courtesy of  Fine Woodworking Techniques 1978 Taunton Press inc. ISBN: 0918804027

Extract: Choosing and Making the right joints by Tage Frid.

This image is courtesy of  Fine Woodworking Techniques 1978 Taunton Press inc. ISBN: 0918804027

You can order the  Fine Woodworking Techniques from Amazon  by clicking one of the links below:

 The drawer has half blind dovetail joins to the front. The joins at the other end of the drawer are full dovetails.

The bottom of the drawer is lined with blue paper. This is original to the box.

The embossed leather writing surface is a modern replacement.