China Trade Writing Box

This China Trade camphor wood Writing Slope was made for the European market and the design was popular enough to be made throughout the 19th century.

When the front drawer is unlocked and opened it pulls the roll-top to the back to reveal a jack in the box of pigeon holes and compartments. When the lid of the slope is opened the pen tray, desk tidy, inkwell holders and the original ruler are accessible. The interior of the box has a compartment for papers under the baised writing surface and two secret drawers. It is interesting to note that the campaign handles are not English. When one was removed Chinese characters were shown to be marked to the back. The box has patinated brass to the edges for protection as well as decoration. With the box are a number of album leaves of photographs which would indicate the owner was FLN Giles.

Frank Giles enlisted in the Royal Engineers on the 1st October 1901 and he is pictured to the left outside his tent with his superior officers during a Camp Inspection Parade in 1911. It is also interesting to see the folding chair and washstand outside the tent. Giles was a keen cricketer and played for Monmouth as well as various army teams. He also seemed to move in high circles as the leaves include an invitation to an 'Afternoon Party' at Buckingham Palace on the 23rd June 1911. Late 19th Century.

Size closed is given