Late 19th Century Chubb & Son Zebra Wood & Inlaid Brass Lap Desk

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Title: Late 19th Century Chubb & Son Zebra Wood & Inlaid Brass Lap Desk.

Description: Chubb & Son (English). Circa … Read more Title: Late 19th Century Chubb & Son Zebra Wood & Inlaid Brass Lap Desk.

Description: Chubb & Son (English). Circa 1880. Offered is an important, very fine English Victorian lap desk. The Mahogany case is finished with fine Zebra wood veneers, etched brass inlay with floral rosettes at four corners between repeated Greek key motif borders, and a central presentation plaque that bears marking "J. Lester" in script. At front is a mortice lock. The case opens to a leather writing surface bordered by a gilt repeated palmette motif. Loose items include a glass inkwell with brass top, pen tray and a small compartment. Within a secret compartment are two drawers.

Original lock with ornate brass key hole plate, stamped "CHUBBS PATENT LONDON", serial number "1037792", office location "128 QUEEN VICTORIA ST. LONDON". This magnificent box was acquired either directly from Chubb & Son or purchased from Asprey, Bond Street, London.

Measures (closed): 13.75 W x 9.25 D x 5.75 H inches. When opened, size is 13.75 W x 18.5 D inches and the writing surface slopes from 1.75 H up to 4 H inches tall.

Provenance: J. Lester.

Note: Chubb & Son; Chubb & Co. (1818-1914). London; furniture lock smiths, furniture makers. (Source: Dictionary of British and Irish Furniture). The Chubb lock company was founded in 1818 by brothers, Charles and Jeremiah Chubb, at their premises on Temple Street, Wolverhampton. This was enabled by Jeremiah’s invention of the ‘Detector Lock’, winning him 100 Guineas in a government competition to create an un-pickable lock that could only be opened by its own key. His ‘Detector Lock’ mechanism was designed to automatically jam the lock as soon as any attempt was made to pick it, and thus would let the owner know about the unauthorized attempt.In 1823, the Chubb company was awarded a special license to supply King George lV and the royal household. They later became the sole supplier of locks to the General Post Office and a supplier to Her Majesty’s Prison Service.In 1827, Chubb opened its first London premises at 57 St Paul’s Churchyard. The company's first trademark was registered on February 4th 1876. In 1877, due to the need for more space they established headquarters for the business at 128 Queen Victoria Street, London. Over this time, lead by John Chubb (Charles’ son) and later by his own three sons, they had also moved and expanded several times around Wolverhampton and London. The Chubb Lock company still remains in business today. (Chubb archive) See less