English 19th Century Burl Marquetry and Inlay Writing Box

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A luxurious English writing box of circa 1879, in the manner of Tunbridge Ware, using burled walnut that has been … Read more A luxurious English writing box of circa 1879, in the manner of Tunbridge Ware, using burled walnut that has been inlaid with mother-of-pearl and geometric marquetry. The top of the lid is inlaid with a small hexagonal mother-of-pearl tile engraved with the initials “MAJ” and dated to “Jan. 26th, 1879”. Two parallel bands of geometric marquetry in contrasting, twisted effect waterfall over the lid and front, interrupting the expressively figured burl grain. The box unfolds to a sloped writing surface of green leather outlined in gold tooling over two storage compartments underneath. There is one secret compartment below the pen tray, flanked by two smaller receptacles for other writing accessories and personal effects. The working lock is announced by a mother-of-pearl escutcheon in the same hexagonal shape as above, one key included. We believe this to be in good antique condition considering its age, and any visible signs of wear are captured in the photos. Please view the detailed image gallery for the current condition or reach out directly with any questions.

Dimensions, closed: 5 ⅝” H x 12” W x 9” D
Dimensions, open: 3 ¾” H x 9” W x 18 ¼” D See less