A very fine Victorian writing box inlaid with metal and mother of pearl and having calligraphy tools 

The box features:

Working lock and key
Secret drawers
mother of pearl inlay
White metal countersunk handles
Calligraphy tools

 

It measures 15  inches wide  by 10 inches deep and it is  inches 5.5 high: 38 cm wide by 25.5cm deep by 14cm high.

Larger versions of the images are available by clicking on them.

The detailing is impeccable. The ebony is inlaid with metal and mother of pearl depicting natural flower forms. The whole box is edged with a solid ebony filet.  

 

The ebony veneers are saw-cut. Ebony is a hard but brittle wood and has never responded well to the production of knife-cut veneer. 

A slice would be cut as thinly as possible and then it would be finished. 

Finishing would involve a methodical process of plaining, scraping, abrading, and finally polishing. 

The undefined grain of ebony often makes plaining all but impossible necessitating  scraping which takes much longer. 

The inlaid brass and mother of pearl are accented with further chiseled engraving. 

A box like this represents many hours of high skilled work. 

 

 Detail: The elaborate escutcheon. The box has a working lock and key. There is a mark in the ebony near the lock probably caused by someone trying to force it open.

The inlaid brass and mother of pearl are accented with further chiseled engraving: chasing. 

The left side of the escutcheon is a replacement.  

Detail: The inlay in the top features an inlay of birds with a fountain. The natural colors and graining of the shell have been used to give the composition life. 

This is  jewelry in wood.

The little cracks in the ebony are usual in work of this date and type. "Restoration" would be inappropriate and would result in loss of some of the engraved detail. These are only veneer cracks and do not appear to have structural consequence. 

The writing tablet retains  its original embossed royal blue  velvet writing surface.

The box has compartments for pens and  inkwell. Inside it is veneered with satinwood.

The flap is lined with blue silk and has a mother of pearl calligraphy set. 

The satinwood is as the ebony saw-cut. The secret drawer panel has a core of mahogany which is veneered on all sides with satinwood which is about a millimeter in thickness. This method of construction is ancient and uses all the qualities of the materials to the best of advantage.

The mahogany is quarter sawn for structural  stability. The satinwood is cut to give the best figure.

There are three solid ebony drawers hidden behind the sprung satinwood panel.

The panel is released by pulling the division next to the box for holding quill pens.

The calligraphy tools are of beautiful quality. The mother of pearl ruler is engraved.

 The quill pen holder is marked S. Morden who was one of the most important pen makers in the 19th C.

 

The lift out pen box is stamped "F.L. Hausburg, Manufacturer Liverpool. 

Hausburg is described on surviving trade medallions as

F.L Hausburg 
JEWELLERS
WATCHMAKERS
MANUFACTURERS
OF DESKS
DRESSING CASES
LAMPS
CHANDELIERS & O
 

On some medalions the name is given as PROMOLI & HAUSBURG

Hausburg was an important manufacturer. 

The underside of the flap is lined with silk. 

The inside of the box is beautifully figured satinwood which contrasts dramatically with the dark ebony of the outside.

Detail of one of the tools. I think the sharp steel blade is designed for splitting quills.

The inkwell has a silver-plated top which has a special screw closure.