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Description:
Ref: 859WB  http://hygra.com/859WB 

Antique fine quality figured rosewood writing box with rounded solid edges, inlaid to the top and front with fine inlays of mother of pearl and white metal depicting stylized curved foliage.  The box opens to a  replacement leather writing surface.  The ebony facings and the pen tray are also inlaid with mother of pearl. 
There are compartments for storing writing accessories, ink and pens. Beneath the writing surface there are compartments for storing papers.  Beneath the accessory compartments there are three secret drawers concealed behind a sprung panel.

Origin: UK;  Circa: 1830; Materials: Rosewood and mother of Pearl.

Size: 40.3 cm wide by 25.6 cm by 15 cm:  15.9  inches wide by 10  inches by 6  inches.

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

Keywords: Hygra.com, Antique box,  writing box, writing desk, mother of pearl inlay, rosewood, 

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The box opens to a replacement gold and blind tooled  leather writing surface.     The facings  framing the writing surface are inlaid with mother of pearl.

There are compartments for storing writing accessories, ink and pens. Beneath the writing surface there are compartments for storing papers. 

 

 

Detail of the mother of pear inlay. the fretting has been cut by hand with a fine piercing saw. Details such as the petals are achieved by fine saw cuts in the rosewood and mother of pearl. This is an example of fine quality work and was time consuming to achieve.

Detail of the mother of pear inlay. the fretting has been cut by hand with a fine piercing saw. Details such as the petals are achieved by fine saw cuts in the rosewood. This is an example of fine quality work and was time consuming to achieve.

The rosewood has throughout got a good figure which contrasts with the iridescence of the mother of pearl inlay.

There is a rounded filet of solid rosewood let into  all the edges. This adds to the manufacturing time considerably  and is an indication of the high quality of build.

 

There are flat countersunk folding brass handles on the sides of the box, a feature popular in the early part of the 19th century.

There are flat countersunk folding brass handles on the sides of the box, a feature popular in the early part of the 19th century.

 The top is profusely inlaid with mother of pearl.

The lines are pewter. 

Detail of the mother of pear inlay. the fretting has been cut by hand with a fine piercing saw. Details such as the petals are achieved by fine saw cuts in the rosewood. This is an example of fine quality work and was time consuming to achieve.

Beneath the writing surface there are compartments for storing papers. 

 

At this date some makers finished the inside of their boxes with a thin French polish.

The box retains two original period inkwells.

Leaking inkwells seem to have been a problem.

The inkwell on the left has a special screw mechanism for securing the top. It has London Hall-marks for 1832. This design started to appear about 1800.

The top of this inkwell is sterling silver. I am not able to read The maker's or sponsor's mark .

The other marks are Sovereign's  head, lion passant, date letter "r" for 1832, and leopard's head for London

A

The other inkwell has cut facets to the shoulders and a screw top.

The box has three secret drawers with ebony pulls concealed behind a sprung panel.

Detail of the secret drawer panel.

The secret drawers are made from mahogany and have dark rosewood facings and turned bone pulls.

The secret drawers are made from mahogany and have dark rosewood facings and turned bone pulls.

 The pen tray is inlaid with mother of pearl. The turned and carved pull is mother of pearl.

The green  baize on the bottom is worn but is original.

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