Writing slope - Mahogany

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Constance Rousseau
Expert
Selected by Constance Rousseau

Master marquetry craftswoman with 4 years' expert experience. Trainee auctioneer at Sotheby's Paris.

Estimate  € 330 - € 400
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Description from the seller

An antique travel writing slope, a Georgian naval-military desk made of solid mahogany, contains three hidden secret compartments. The travel writing desk is the ancestor of today’s laptop and tablet. It was designed to enable writing work even in uncomfortable situations. The more elaborate models were equipped with drawers and compartments to keep sheets of paper, envelopes, a bottle of ink, pens and nibs, blotting paper, business cards, a bottle of talcum, and sealing wax. The travel writing desk flourished from the 1500s to the second half of the nineteenth century, when the Grand Tour—the journey to explore the art of Italy and its civilization—was fashionable. The most coveted writing desks were made of mahogany, oak, or larch, and they featured a compass-like opening to provide a sufficiently rigid writing surface."

An antique travel writing slope, a Georgian naval-military desk made of solid mahogany, contains three hidden secret compartments. The travel writing desk is the ancestor of today’s laptop and tablet. It was designed to enable writing work even in uncomfortable situations. The more elaborate models were equipped with drawers and compartments to keep sheets of paper, envelopes, a bottle of ink, pens and nibs, blotting paper, business cards, a bottle of talcum, and sealing wax. The travel writing desk flourished from the 1500s to the second half of the nineteenth century, when the Grand Tour—the journey to explore the art of Italy and its civilization—was fashionable. The most coveted writing desks were made of mahogany, oak, or larch, and they featured a compass-like opening to provide a sufficiently rigid writing surface."

Details

Era
1400-1900
No. of items
1
Country of Origin
United Kingdom
Material
Mahogany
Condition
Fair condition - heavily used & with possibly minor parts missing
Height
19 cm
Width
57 cm
Depth
50 cm
Estimated period
19th century
ItalyVerified
Private

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