RARE ANTIQUE LATE GEORGIAN PENWORK WRITING BOX

Circa 1800

Height: 7 ins / 17.78 cm
Width: 17.125 ins / 43.5 cm
Depth: 10.5 ins / 26.67 cm
Stock Number: 012065/415
Price: £2950

A very rare late Georgian penwork writing box, decorated to all four sides and top with beautiful penwork, the top opening to reveal a cloth covered writing slope, together with spaces for two ink bottles, pen tray and a lidded compartment, the bottom slope opening to a stationery compartment, whilst the top slope opens to reveal a space for papers and also three small secret drawers which are behind a wooden panel which is released by the secret mechanism to the side of one of the inkbottle spaces, there is a side drawer which is opened with its key and the main box has a Bramah lock fitted. The box is beautifully decorated throughout, the top with a chariot being pulled by four horses and driven by a classical figure holding a baton, following this is a mounted herald holding a trumpet in his right hand and in front of him are two soldiers dressed in suits of armour, one holding a shield decorated with a families coats of arms and the initials LR, surrounding this scene is a decoration of trailing oak leaves and acorns, the front of the box is decorated with two processions of classical figures approaching a central column to which they appear to be bringing offerings, this scene is surround by tailing vine leaves and grapes, above this is another panel of stylised flowers, the two ends of the box are decorated with three panels of different motifs, whilst the back of the box has two decorated panels, the top with two winged figures offering wine to a large central urn surrounded by scrolling foliage, the bottom panel with two winged animals either side of a covered urn again surrounded by trailing foliage.

This is an amazing example of penwork decoration and is one of the largest examples of this type of work that I have seen on a box and would make a marvellous addition to any collection of penwork decoration or writing boxes.