Description: 
WB472: Solid mahogany writing box of dovetail construction in typical late 18th century style c1790.
This is a solid mahogany writing box made in the characteristic late 18th century style, designed to withstand military campaigns and/or extensive travelling.

Inside there is a sloping leather writing surface (modern replacement). There are further compartments for papers and writing implements.

The box also has a side drawer.

Origin: UK

Circa: 1790

Size: 35 cm by 24.2 cm by 16 cm: 13.8 inches by 9.5 inches by 6.3  inches.

Condition: Good over all but with the scuffs and marks of life. see pictures. Working lock and key. The pen-tray is a 19th c replacement.

It is interesting to compare this box with some other writing boxes of the same period.

Antique Solid mahogany writing box in typical late 18th century style c1790

Antique late 18th century inlaid mahogany writing box with an unusual secret compartment

Hygra: Brass bound Solid mahogany writing box of dovetail construction circa 1790

Jane Austen and Her Writing Box

 

The mahogany would have been selected for both beauty and stability.

The apparent simplicity of the box belies a complex dovetail construction. 

Detail  of the drawer. This is a half blind dovetail joint. It is designed to only be visible from the sides.

 The embossed leather writing surface is a modern replacement.

A corner which reveals the construction.

The carpentry is clear. This is a double blind sometimes called a "full blind"  dovetail joint.

The joint is visually very different to a simple miter.    A miter joint which glues end grain wood to end grain wood is much weaker and would not have survived the rigors of travel or 200 years.

Dovetail joints:

The dovetail joint is one of the wonders of woodwork. In the full blind none of the careful work is visible. If the joint is simply mitered it will not survive atmospheric change. A mitered joint is end grain to end grain. The glue soaks in, becomes dry and brittle and falls apart. 

The dovetail joint enables side grain to be glued to side grain. These joints would hold together without glue!

It is the true proof of these dovetail joints made by craftsmen 200 years ago that their joints are as they made them.

This image is courtesy of  Fine Woodworking Techniques 1978 Taunton Press inc. ISBN: 0918804027

Extract: Choosing and Making the right joints by Tage Frid.

This image is courtesy of  Fine Woodworking Techniques 1978 Taunton Press inc. ISBN: 0918804027

You can order the  Fine Woodworking Techniques from Amazon  by clicking one of the links below:

The side handles are external and not countersunk as in later boxes.

The side handles are external and not countersunk as in later boxes.

 Under the writing surfaces there are places for storing papers.

 Detail: the embossed leather writing surface is a replacement.

Working lock and key. The pen-tray is a 19th c replacement.