Dating an antique English writing slope

I recently purchased a very large solid mahogany writing slope which was advertised by the seller as Edwardian c 1910. Large meaning 56cm x 30cm x 22cm and weighing 9.5kg. On closer inspection of the lock, I see a small crown and the initials "W R" beneath (picture below). Several weeks back, a very experienced slope dealer/restorer was selling a slope with this same marking on the lock; he had stated that this indicated the slope was likely manufactured during the reign of William IV (William Rex), which meant the period from 1830 - 1837. Can anyone out there corroborate this assessment?

 

I'm no expert, but I did find 3 sites saying the same about the crown over WR mark
If you google "crown over WR" + "William IV" you get many sites with that info (and a few others if you google "WR under crown" + "William IV")

 

Could/would you post a photograph of the piece itself?

Debora

 

Here are a couple more photos. Everything is original I believe; the writing surface is a lovely embossed velvet.

 

https://antique-padlocks.com/lever_wr_01.htm#:~:text=William Rex&text=These locks were manufactured during,King William IV 1830-1837.

similar ...
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/61866802_a-late-regency-cuban-mahogany-and-rosewood-brass

 

@Shangas

 

It was really common (especially in older times) to mark products with the name of the reigning monarch of the time. For example, public mailboxes in the UK are still made with the Royal Cypher on it. So, V.R., E.R.VII, G.R., etc, etc.

"W.R." would definitely be William Rex (King William/William IV).

Anybody well-up in their English history will know William IV reigned from 1830 - 1837, so that would date this box to the second quarter of the 19th century, and NOT Edwardian (1901-1914). So this box is damn near 200 years old.

Apart from that - it's a military box (or could be).

The flat top, the brass edging, and the flush "campaign" handles on the sides means that it was made to be carried around, packed, unpacked, transported and used out in the field on military or explorative campaigns (hence "campaign" handles).

The whole idea behind campaign handles was that, by closing them flush into the box sides/lid, the box was easier to stack and store with all the other luggage and trunks and cases. Stuff like this was used by army or navy officers while out traveling or on campaign somewhere, or during wartime.

Alternatively, the box could've been used by one of those intrepid, Victorian explorer chappies, with their khaki pith-helmets, safari jackets and shotguns, and who needed a compact, easily packed-up box that didn't take up too mush space inside his wagon during his trip to Africa or whatever.

 

Thank you all and especially @Shangas for the helpful info and links! I believe we have consensus that the slope is indeed much older than advertised. It is one beast of a box, I could easily imagine it out on a military campaign trail!

 

Beautiful box TWG- great find ! Welcome to the site,our members are some of the sharpest (& hardest working) online.
@Roaring20s that late Regency mounted lap desk on Invaluable that went for $200 looks like a great deal. I love Invaluable-only problem is the bloated shipping & 24.5% buyers premium !