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Antique Boxes in English Society
1760 -1900
by ANTIGONE
Writing Boxes
Writing Boxes
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A Captains Box with elaborate secret drawers and compartments Circa 1800
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A Brass bound mahogany Captains writing box with secret compartments  and drawers. 

The box has an  adjustable mechanism to enable it to be used as a reading stand, as here.

Military style. good quality brass bindings, facings, countersunk handles, and edgings.  

Here the box is in the reading stand position: a sort of lectern.  

Dimensions: 22" wide 11.5 deep 7.75"high (closed).

 

The pictures can be supersized by cliccking on them.

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The brass is structural and fastened to the box with iron screws. 

The handles are strong enough to lift the box. 

This is the image of the Military type brass bound Captains box.

The locks work and  have their keys.

Captain's boxes are rare and no two are the same. It is interesting to compare the features.  

 thumbnail index of writing boxes

History of writing boxes

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A Captains Box with  secret drawers and compartments  and accessories for dressing Circa 1800 Enlarge Picture

A Captains Box with secret drawers and compartments and accessories for dressing Circa 1800

WB475: Important rare brass bound  solid mahogany ship captain's campaign writing box with complex secret drawers and compartments including a false bottom.  The box retains its original green felt writing surface, pounce  and inkwell. The box also has a screw down mechanism enabling it  be attached to a table. There is also a reading stand which is attached to the top surface when the box is held at an angle with an adjustable hinged brass catch. Circa 1800. Enlarge Picture

WB475: Important rare brass bound solid mahogany ship captain's campaign writing box with complex secret drawers and compartments including a false bottom. The box retains its original green felt writing surface, pounce and inkwell. The box also has a screw down mechanism enabling it be attached to a table. There is also a reading stand which is attached to the top surface when the box is held at an angle with an adjustable hinged brass catch. Circa 1800. 

An Early 19th C solid mahogany Captains writing box with elaborate secret compartments screw-down mechanism and historical associations

An Early 19th C solid mahogany Captains writing box with elaborate secret compartments screw-down mechanism and historical associations

An Early 19th Century Captains Box with elaborate secret drawers and compartments Fitted with dressing accessories By  George Palmer London

An Early 19th Century Captains Box with elaborate secret drawers and compartments Fitted with dressing accessories By George Palmer London

There are also other good quality writing boxes made in the military style but without the screw-down mechanism.

A Georgian Mahogany Triple Opening brass bound Writing Box circa 1815  Enlarge Picture

A Georgian Mahogany Triple Opening brass bound Writing Box circa 1815

Georgian Mahogany Triple Opening brass bound Writing Box circa 1810 with original inkwells and secret drawers Enlarge Picture

Georgian Mahogany Triple Opening brass bound Writing Box circa 1810 with original inkwells and secret drawers.

The box has a screw down mechanism to enable it to be fixed to a table. The screws are tightened using a special key.

The writing tablet is covered with the original olive green baize.

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Close up showing both the brass bindings. The brass is secured with steel/iron screws. These were clearly  flattened when first put in. 

The key  is used to tighten the screws for fixing the box down.

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There is a lift out lockable box under the writing flap. The first set of secret drawers are hidden behind a panel in front of the compartment for ink and pens.

The box has its original inkwell.

 The sprung  panel concealing the secret drawers  is released by pressing on one of the "screws" in the brass facing. 

The countersunk handle is similar to one on a printing box which has been featured in  Antique Boxes, Tea Caddies, and Society -- 1700-1880 see figure. 481

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The box has a false bottom which is released by inserting a sharp object into a small hole as in picture on left. The second hole which can be seen in the picture is used to release a panel which is under the second flap.

The released bottom panel can then be lifted out of the box.

The false bottom is very unusual and is recorded at figure 496. Antique Boxes, Tea Caddies, and Society -- 1700-1880

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There are another two drawers under the panel and hidden behind another panel. This is released by pressing the wood at the side of the box.

One of these draws is designed to hold sovereigns and half-sovereigns.
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Most unusually there are secret compartments in the upper part. A thin instrument is pushed through the hole above to release the covering panel. 

The long piece of wood is the reading stand.

Behind the panel there are a series of pigeon holes.

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 thumbnail index of writing boxes

History of writing boxes

Request current  list of available writing boxes.

 

For the historical context of this writing box read the relevant part of Antigone's Online Antique Box Book. If you click here you will go there.

We have written a highly  illustrated book on Antique Boxes and Tea caddies  which is being  published by  Schiffer Books USA. 

  © 2002-2012 Antigone Clarke and Joseph O'Kelly