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Description:
Ref: 671WB
http://hygra.com/box/671WB 
Antique figured rosewood writing box with brass corners,  straps, and  countersunk carrying handles. As well as the space under the writing surface there is a side drawer for storing papers.  The writing surface, an embossed leather skiver (replacement) is framed by a cross -banding of rosewood. There are secret drawers concealed behind a sprung panel.  The escutcheons both in front of the lock and the top are of ornate shape with spear like  fleur dis lis motif  to the sides.  The box has a working lock and key. Circa 1830.

Origin: UK ;  Circa: 1830; Materials: Rosewood and brass on a mahogany structure .

Size: 45.5 cm wide by 24.6 cm by 17.2 cm:  17.9  inches wide by 9.7   inches by 6.8  inches.

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

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Inside the box opens to an embossed leather writing surface framed by a crossbanding of rosewood. 

corner detail:

 

 There are compartments for holding papers under the flaps. Under the compartment for pens and inkwells there is a sprung panel, which conceals three secret drawers. 

The lock plate is stamped with a P within an oval. This marking is associated with a locksmith called "E Turner"

I have not yet traced any information on Turner, locksmith. However he was clearly productive as many surviving writing boxes have Turner locks. Some surviving locks are just marked with the P within the oval.

The locks are simple ward locks.

The lock is similar to that on :

.hygra.com/uk/wb2/wb130/index.htm#07 

The pen tray is curved and veneered with rosewood.

 To access the secret drawers the pen tray and the inkwell (if present)  is removed. the compartment is then squeezed between thumb and and middle finger

The catch is connected by a  wooden rod to the side of the compartment.. 

 The underside of the panel is typical.: steel spring brass catch-plate and holes drilled to accommodate the turned pulls on the secret drawers.

The secret drawers are of mahogany construction with a dark rosewood veneer to the front. The rosewood is about 1mm thick. The turned handle is made of bone which can be identified by the dark striations. Bone unlike ivory has blood vessels. 

The fact that the inside of the compartment for paper is unfinished points to a date before about 1840.

 The figure of the rosewood has the sketch lines of so many landscapes.  The joy of the wood is that you can never be quite sure  what the next slice of veneer will display.  At this time the veneers are being sawn from the log. The thinnest blade possible will be used to avoid loosing wood into sawdust.  

Often when the figure is as evocative as this the central escutcheon is left out..

The escutcheons both in front of the lock and the top are of ornate shape with spear like fleur dis lis motif to the side.

 The fleur-de-lis (also spelled fleur-de-lys; plural fleurs-de-lis or -lys; an archaic spelling is fleur-de-luce) is used in heraldry, where it is particularly associated with the French monarchy (see King of France). The fleur-de-lis remains an unofficial symbol of France (along with the Bees and the napoleonic eagle), but has not been used as an official symbol by the various French republics.

There is green baize on the bottom so the box wont scratch furniture. This is a replacement.