Magento Commerce

For many centuries, and in many cultures, portables boxes for writing materials had existed. But it was not until the late 18th century that a variation in social & economic circumstances in England made it essential to have the use of a portable desk in the form of a box which could be used on a lap or table. The Writing Box, or Lap Desk, was born!

The first writing boxes symbolised intelligence, commerce & a knowledge of the world, with style and fashion being a lesser priority at this time. For around 100 years from the late 1700s, the writing box featured prominently on military expeditions, travels, libraries and in drawing rooms. Famous literature, contracts, letters and postcards were written on it. The Writing Box was a personal possession, unlike the writing desk or table.

By the late 1700s the Writing Box became increasing popular due to the imminent Napoleonic wars and the popularity of travelling. They were hugely popular amongst Army Officers who used their boxes to write cherished letters to their loved ones, aswell as for business. Mostly used by men, they were also a symbol of social status.

It's generally brass-bound, has secret drawers, candlesticks & a screw-down mechanism which comes out the bottom of the box and fixes it to a piece of furniture or ships deck, not only for security purposes but for possible rough voyages. Boxes we come across of this style are rarely the same in terms of arrangement of secret compartments & drawers, adding to their character. They also often contain candlesticks and a reading stand.

Campaign & Military style Boxes were made and used well into the 19th century. Charles Dickens and Lord Byron were famous users of this type of Box.

Until around the mid 1780s, the postal service was a shambles. Eventually armed guards had to be introduced on mail coaches to make them them safe, fast and efficient. Postal deliveries were vastly improved and as a result letter writing became a hugely popular passtime, especially amongst women, in particular, society ladies. This can be demonstated by the smaller, lighter & more decorative styles made during this period. These could be carried with ease between rooms and were a greater enhancement to the beautiful interiors of this period. Features of these boxes include: the front cover of the box opens back to reveal a sloping surface for writing. This consists of a flap, under which paper can be stored. At the back is a section for inkwells and pens. Some of the most exquisite boxes date from this period.

The use of Lap Desks remained until late Victorian times when their popularity started to decrease, as they became more mass-produced & of lower quality.

We get great pleasure from acquiring and restoring these wonderful boxes. We often discover compartments that appear to have been untouched and forgotten about over the years. They often need replacement writing surfaces due to their age and continued use. We always try to restore as sympathetically as possible, so to do this we have our own antique leathering & book binding tools to restore the box to its formal glory.

When you buy a Writing Box, you truly are buying a piece of history!

Hampton Antiques are members of the British Antiques Dealers Association & London and Provincial Antique Dealers Association