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ANTIQUE BOXES
at the Sign of the Hygra
2 Middleton Road
London E8 4BL
Tel: 00 44 (0)20 7254 7074
email: boxes@hygra.com |
Antique Boxes in English Society
1760 -1900
by ANTIGONE
Writing Boxes |
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| A Very Fine, Important, and extremely
Rare Brass inlaid Rosewood Writing Box Circa
1810 by Bayley's of London. |
A very fine brass bound triple opening writing box with secret
drawers , made by one of the most eminent makers of the Regency
period.
The box is marked "Bayley's 17. Cockspur St. " See
below.
Rosewood crossbanded with ebony inlaid with separate brass
elements having "lucky" quatrefoil centers.
The quality screams.
Dimensions: 14" wide 9" deep 5"high (closed).
The pictures can be super-sized by clicking on them.
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Detail: The brass edging is fixed with brass pins. The ornate brass
inlay is in separate pieces and inlaid into a ebony cross banding.
This sets off the wonderful distinctive figure of the rosewood
The pinning of the brass edging is visible.
The quatrefoil was said to attract luck. Above it is a trefoil for
even more luck!
Countersunk brass carrying handles
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Inside the box is a feast for the eyes, retaining all its fine original
gold embossed leather work.
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The exceptional leatherwork is all
original.
Even the little pen
and ink compartments have a leather lining. To see this it may
be necessary to enlarge. Click on the image to enlarge.
Note also the steel screws holding the hinges.
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Close up showing the finely tooled leather.
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The leather writing tablet which is elaborately tooled and gilded. As
can be seen there is some staining from ink.
The box has an unmatched pair of
period inkwells.
The ink staining is a mark that this box was used and is part
of the history. The quality is superb.
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Behind the panel are secret compartments and drawers. |
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The sprung panel concealing the secret drawers is released by
pulling on one of the divisions next to the inkwell.
The box has two rosewood faced secret drawers.
The inside of the paper compartments is finished without any
varnish or polish.
This is consistent with the
period. It was only later in the century that a finish was added.
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The box has a document wallet in the upper part.
The maker Bayley has signed the box on the central label.
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The box is marked "Bayley's 17. Cockspur St.
Bayley, Blew & Chapman, who described themselves as
"dressing case makers and Perfumers to His Majesty and HRH Duke
of York," are recorded in the accounts of George IV as having
supplied in 1828, a rosewood writing desk edged with brass and a
buhl border, patent lock, and flaps covered with green velvet;
interior glass mounted with silver. £15 12s. The price for
this box is very high indeed, at least five times what could be
expected for a normal quality box and reflects the appreciation of
the intricate brass work.
See page 274, Antique Boxes,
Tea Caddies and Society 1700-1880. by Antigone Clarke and Joseph
O'Kelly ISBN: 0764316885
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