Description

Retails Stamp Lund of London

From our Writing Box collection, we are pleased to offer this Rare Georgian Blonde Tortoiseshell Writing Box. The Writing Box of rectangular form with book matched Tortoiseshell sides and a beautiful quarter veneered Tortoiseshell top. The Tortoiseshell partitioned with fine ivory stringing dividing the exterior of the box into perfect squares. The lid is surmounted by a vacant Silver initial plate with a shaped escutcheon to the front. The exterior is finished with four protective pins, which protect the Tortoiseshell from hitting the surface when opening. The interior of the Writing Slope is faced in Horn and contains its original deep claret-coloured leather writing surface, with gold tooling. Each half of the writing surface can be lifted, the lower half is secured with two silver tabs which prevent the other tab from falling open when closing the box. The small lock-keep at the bottom edge of the box neatly folds down, this helps to prevent snagging whilst writing The upper half of the Writing Box lifts to reveal the London retailer’s label of Thomas Lund on the underside of the slope. The Tortoiseshell Writing Box dates to the Georgian period during the reign of George III circa 1800.

The Writing Slope comes complete with working lock and tasselled key.

Thomas Lund established his London Business in 1804. In 1835 his son William Lund opened his own retail outlet on Fleet Street, London. In 1845 Thomas passed away and William would go on to run both businesses. His son Charles took over the business when William died in 1872 and continued to operate under the name William Lund & Son.

Tortoiseshell describes a type of decorative material made from the shells of certain species of sea turtles. The shells of these turtles are composed of a hard, glossy substance called keratin, which can be cut and shaped into a variety of decorative items. Tortoiseshell has been used for centuries to make a range of decorative objects, including combs, brush handles, and other small items. It is also sometimes used to make tea caddies, as it is strong, durable, and can be polished to a high shine. The term “tortoiseshell” is used to describe these decorative items, even though they are made from the shells of sea turtles because the term has been used historically to refer to this material.

If you are purchasing Tortoiseshell or Ivory pieces and are outside the UK you must have a CITES certificate in order to import the item into your country. We can obtain these on your behalf at a cost of £50 and these can take up to 30 working days to arrive at our office. Due to the strict exporting rules of these pieces, they may also come with further shipping costs. Please ensure you contact us prior to purchase for a quote.

With every purchase from Mark Goodger Antiques, you will receive our latest catalogue, a Certificate of Authenticity, detailed care instructions for your chosen piece and an independent invoice (for insurance purposes) will be enclosed. As well as being protected by a no-hassle, money-back policy, your piece will be entirely insured during the shipping process to ensure the safety of your item.

Additional information