Rocco Antiques

Description

Towards the end of the 18th century the writing slope become an important possession for personal as well as business use. Once the wooden box is opened flat it turns into an angled writing surface. To make it comfortable to use for writing the slope is covered with a soft material like leather or baize. The writing box become known as a portable (mini) desk with its compartments to store everything needed to write a letter.

This fine writing box is made from a beautiful piece of rosewood. Constructed in the military campaign style that uses high quality brass straps, corners and hinges. Typically taken on a military campaign, a grand tour or other expedition it was essential that a box like this was a sturdy and well built travelling companion.

The interior of this writing slope is divided into sections for the storage of inkwells, pens, sealing wax as well as writing/note paper and envelopes. The slope was re-covered at some point in its life with the lovely green leather and gold tooling around the edges.

Possibly the highlight of this amazing writing box is the hidden storage section. It can be found by lifting up the top half of the slope to enter the large storage compartment. A small piece of wood makes up the left wall of the ink bottle compartment on the right. Once this little panel is removed a brass trigger becomes visible. This controls the removal of a long and thin wooden panel. At this point two beautifully made drawers, long and thin in shape, come into view. When discovered by our restorer it become clear that both drawers had likely never been opened since they were constructed. Made by a skilled carpenter, even the two tiny drawer handles had the smallest of decoration on them. Exquisite!