Description:
WB429: Important Regency brass edged and inlaid writing box with double layered secret compartments and drawers,  by Thomas Lund of Cornhill, a replacement leather writing surface and compartments for pens and stationery. The secret compartments include a rare sprung false bottom.

The box retains original cut 19th c inkwells and keys for both the main Bramah lock and the separately locked writing flap. Circa 1820.

Origin: UK Thomas Lund 56 and 57 Cornhill, London

Circa: 1820.

Materials: Rosewood inlaid with brass on a mahogany construction.

Size: 50.5cm by 28.7cm by 19cm: 19.8 inches by 11.3  inches by 7.5 inches.

Condition: Very good overall: see images; working locks and keys.

This was a time of industrial innovation and the Bramah lock was part of that innovation.  They were made to the highest specification and gave a great improvement on security. Joseph Bramah took out his patent for the   Bramah Lock  in 1784. 

The entry for Thomas Lund in the Dictionary of English Furniture Makers, 1660-1840 reads: "Lund, Thomas, 56 and 57 Cornhill, London, portable desk manufacturer, cutler and dressing case maker (1819-39), In 1819 declared himself to be a 'cutler, manufacturer of portable desks, pens &quills, importer of filtering stones'. Two tortoise-shell tea caddies are known marked with this makers stamp. One with a domed rectangular lid and ivory feet is marked 'Lund, Maker, 57 Cornhill London' and the other an octagonal one, is stamped on the inside ivory rim 'LUND CORNHILL ST"

 

The rosewood is saw cut and highly figured. There are inset brass carrying handles on both sides. 

The brass edging is held in place by  brass pins driven in at an angle. The edging contrasts with the rich colour of the rosewood and also gives protection from knocks. The use of brass  which was both structural and decorative. was highly fashionable in the Regency period.

Boxes from Thomas Lund  seem to have a special quality which has a refinement without over elaboration. The interiors of their boxes are meticulously finished, with the fabrics  (when used) coordinated with flair. Everything opens and shuts well. 

Below are listed some other boxes by Thomas Lund we have handled:

 1. Quality writing box veneered in rosewood and inlaid with brass stringing. Thomas Lund. C. 1825.

2. Fine sewing box veneered in rosewood, brass stringing. Silk covered interior.Thomas.C.1825.

 3. Dressing box veneered in coromandel with rounded brass surround and two thin lines of stringing. Side drawer for jewelry has silk cover. Interior fitted with velvet and gold tooled leather. Nicely engraved silver tops on the bottles by Francis Douglas, London 1841. Thomas. Another almost identical box with maker's name on brass plaque.

 5. Coromandel veneered sewing box with fine inlay in brass and mother of pearl. Thomas.

The rosewood is beautifully figured on all sides. The front and the top have further inlaid brass lines.

The centre of the the top has an engraved inlaid name plate:

It reads: "Alfred Norton Pawle. 25th May 1847".

1847 is later than the date of manufacture. Both the style of the box and the form and marking of the Bramah lock point to about 1820. It was quite normal for important boxes to be passed from one generation to the next.. 

 

There are further brass inlays to the facings and the supplementary lids. The liftout pen tray is of dovetail construction is made from solid ebony. 

 The corner detail  with the inlay to the facings is similar to: http://hygra.com/uk/wb/wb116/  

 The box has two original 19th C keys.  The Bramah key is for the main lock the other, simpler key locks the flap.

 The box retains original cut 19th c inkwells. 

These are mid 19th C matching the date of the engraving to the plaque in the top.

Detail of the elaborate strap hinging. Note the slots of the screws are all lined up in the same direction.. 

The third screw from the left is not what it appears to be. It is in fact the release button for the false bottom.

The box has three sprung panels concealing six drawers and a compartment.

When all three sprung panels have been removed the box has six secret drawers which are of dovetail construction and faced with rosewood inlaid with a brass line. The pulls are turned ebony.

 The corner detail  with the inlay to the facings is similar to: http://hygra.com/uk/wb/wb116/  

 The Bramah lock is in working order.  The lock plate is marked J. Bramah 124  Piccadilly and the symbol of a crown.

Joseph Bramah took out his patent for the   Bramah Lock  in 1784. 

For further information on Bramah locks:

www.hygra.com/locks/Bramah/index.htm  

 

 Detail: The supplementary lids are veneered with rosewood and have turned ebony pulls.

 The Liftout pen tray is crafted from solid ebony.

The embossed leather writing surface is a replacement. 

The inside of the box is finished with a thin coat of shellac. The webbing, for posting important documents, which need attention on the back of the flap is original. a small section of the webbing has been lost.

 The other flap has a separate lock. It retains its original key.
 

 Accessing the Secrets

The secret drawers are concealed behind sprung panels of solid mahogany.

The first panel is released by taking out the inkwell and squeezing the wall of the box between the thumb and index finger.

 The center of the panel is embossed:" LUND MAKER CORNHILL"

 Detail of the back of the panel.  once again the screws are lined up! The hole is to accommodate the pull handle of  one of the secret drawers.

The drawers are of dovetail construction. The craftsmanship is impeccable.  All the surfaces have a fine sealing coat of shellac.

  The fronts of the drawers are veneered with rosewood and have turned ebony pulls as well as being inlaid with a brass line.  

 The divisions between the drawers have a molded bead run in. This gives a lighter look while retaining the strength of construction.

 The entire bottom of the main compartment conceals further secrets. 

The bottom is a sprung panel. It is held in place by a catch on both sides. The catches are released by pressing on the screws as shown in the photo on the left and below.

This is the box when all three panels have been taken out.
 The secret drawers are concealed by two panels one above and the other below the false bottom..

Beneath the panel which covers  most of the bottom of the box there is a further nest of three drawers concealed by a further panel. This is released by pressing the wood of the side just below the spring.

Detail: the reverse of the lower panel.

 The inside of the box is impeccably finished. Even the surface of the wood which would never be seen unless the drawers were taken out completely, as here, are polished

 Detail showing the construction of the writing flaps. The flaps have a main central piece of wood flanked by two further pieces of wood. They are joined using a tongue and groove joint shown in the photo. on the upper surface