Featured Help with a writing box?

Hi! I have inherited a wooden writing box from my great-great aunt via my grandmother. I love it, but I would like to find out a bit more about it if possible.

I don't know what kind of wood it is, or how old it is, what it might be worth (no way I'm selling it but would like to cover it under my insurance) and I'd also appreciate any advice on fixing/restoring the writing slope section - the coating (bonded leather? vinyl? stuff??) is flaking away and bits of black stuff get everywhere every time I use it.

It has wood inlay on the top, front, and back, and there used to be a lock but it's not there any more, unfortunately, looks like it's been pulled out although the keyhole plate on the front remains.

I've attached some photos so if anyone can help shed some light that would be wonderful!

 

Im confused by this one . I think its possibly 30s-40s,at least in style,but Im not sure writing slopes were still in fashion then . It might be Tunbridge ware too. But thats all just a guess.

 

I would date your box from mid to late 1800s.
Wood is probably walnut.
These are often called writing slopes.

The box appears to be incomplete. I think there should be a tray for pens and ink bottle. Also I think the writing area should extend above and cover the open area.


https://www.google.com/search?q=gre...0Q_AUICCgC&biw=1498&bih=1002&dpr=0.85#imgrc=_

 

I think maybe it is - I had a bit of a search around based on your guess, and it looks like it fits!!

Thank you! This date info really helped, and now I can see that I think you're right - there should be an extra tray and the writing slope should extend. I gave the info to my husband and he found this, which is similar (but in better condition!) http://www.sellingantiques.co.uk/360386/victorian-tunbridge-ware-combination-box/

 

That is not Tunbridge ware but parquetry decoration. Parquetry is geometric marquetry. Tunbridge is wood micro-mosaic. The wood around the leather surface seems to be rosewood. The outside could be walnut.

As a writing slope it is a bit of a relic, although the outside of the box is apparently in reasonable condition. It might fetch the equivalent of $30 in an auction here in Britain.

I am pretty sure I could pick one up comparable to the good condition example shown for around the equivalent of $150. The market for these is pretty dead at the moment.

 

Alternatively you could inset a WiFi keyboard and flat screen and voila, Steam punk lap top.

 

Steam punk laptop! Genius!

And hola, and welcome to the Forums!
Gila

 

I didn't have time to read all of this. But it does list makers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunbridge_ware

What is interesting is this box you show is the only one that I saw with the same 2 hinge slope. All the others open like a regular box, 1 hinge.

 

But it is not Tunbridge ware.

 

Where's Shang when you really need him??????

 

Hello! And thank you - this is such a helpful community!!

That's what has been throwing me off - the double layer of the box! Most others I find have only the one.

Thank you - that's a helpful explanation!

 

I posted the link on Turnbridge ware, because it listed makers.

From the above link I posted:

Techniques

Marquetry was an old technique which was continued by Nye and Barton to create images such as birds or butterflies; parquetry, which was similar, was used to make geometric designs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunbridge_ware

 

Alright, hold yer horses, I'm here now.

Date? Mid-late 1800s. Once the fountain pen showed up around 1890-1910, the writing slope died a VERY quick death. By the Edwardian era I think there almost none left being manufactured. I've never come across one made after 1900, and I've been chasing writing slopes for the better part of 30 years.

Value? In that condition. Not much. Under $50.

In fully-restored condition, a few hundred bucks.

Style? What you've got here is a 'double-opening' box, comprised of three sections. They were fairly common, but were generally more up-market.

Cheaper, single-opening boxes were easier to make and are *generally* more common. This is almost certainly a ladies' box. I suspect it would've contained spaces in it for a sewing-box, a dressing case or other such accessories, when it was brand new.

Boxes like these were designed to hold all kinds of things - I strongly suspect that there's a LOT of this box that's gone missing. They wouldn't have left such HUGE gaps underneath the lid and put nothing in there - the space was far too valuable not to use.

They are called many things... Writing boxes, writing slopes, box-desks, lap-desks, travelling desks, campaign desks...the list goes on, and on, and on.

It is missing...

The lock.
The key.
The upper writing-leaf.
The inkstand assembly.
The curved pen-rest.
The threaded-top inkwell (you can see the inkstain in the corner where it would've gone).

Possibly also missing a drop-in tray which would've held a dressing-set. Mirror, scissors, nail-file, etc etc.

These boxes are very simply put together. You have two writing leaves (wooden panels) which are hinged using a reinforcing strip, and a covering-layer of leather or velvet, sometimes reinforced on the underside of the hinge with extra fabric. That is IT. No hinges. No nails. No screws. No rivets. Glue and fabric/leather. That is how they were made, and that is how you will have to restore it, if you wish to.

The leaves are supposed to open and shut to access storage underneath. Your writing box has an upper storage compartment (where the upper writing-leaf would also be the lid), but no lower storage-compartment (due to the design of the box).

A box like this will have a very simple, one-lever lock (made of brass) which fits into the space behind the keyhole. It'll just screw into place with a couple of screws.

Antique writing slopes are tricky to value. The most TRASHED ones are on sale for hundreds, or they can be on sale for twenty bucks. But restored, these things can go for anywhere from $300 to $3,000+. I have one in my possession which if I ever sell it (not bloody likely), I'd want at least three grand, and not a penny less.

 

LEGEND!!!! I was starting to think that there was a lot of it missing, having not really considered it before, so I would like to see if I can at least get the missing parts replaced somehow. I actually use it, and it has a lot of sentimental value to me, so I guess that's pretty hard to value when it comes to whether it's worth restoring. I wish I could find out a bit more family history around it, and why so much of it is missing, but not much chance of that now

 

There is a LOT missing. It would be possible to repair it if you or your husband have sufficient woodworking skills, but that's up to you. Writing-box inkwells (a specific type manufactured for this purpose) may be found on eBay (modern reproductions). Or you can hold out hopes to find an antique one, although I wouldn't hold my breath - they're not easy to find.

Fixing the lock and the key should be relatively painless. Any decent hardware shop or antiques/period-furniture fittings/hardware shop will have what you need.

Cutting a new top panel shouldn't be too difficult. Then you gotta fit it into the slot and secure it with glue and fabric and leather etc. It's a bit messy, but it can be done. I've done it myself, so it's not impossible.

Once fountain pens became practical writing instruments, writing boxes just became obsolete. It's like once you have a laptop computer, or a tablet, who carries around a typewriter? Same thing, really.

But some things were still usable - like the locks, like the keys, like the inkwells, etc. so they were cannibalised out of the old boxes, and put to use elsewhere, or else were broken up and went missing in the process.

 

Making a 'steampunk laptop' would be easy, and very difficult.

Easy, because there's THOUSANDS, probably MILLIONS of ripped-out writing slopes out there, which could be used for such a project.

Difficult, because people ask ridiculous amounts of money for them. 'Round here, anywhere from $100, to $500+ for something that's an empty box.

 

British salerooms are full of them. Cheap.

You'd need a larger slope to make it easy, they do come a few inches wider than that one. I envisage one of those hybrid tablet plus detachable keyboard laptops.