Large Deed Box by Powell

This red leather Despatch Box can be considered large in size.

The maker is Thomas Powell and we illustrated a standard size Dispatch Box by him in our Rule Britannia catalogue. Both boxes have the same label which notes T. Powell, Original Maker to His Majesty and the address of 341 Oxford Street. Powell is noted as working in 1815 but is no longer listed in the directories by 1823. The box interior is lined in marbleized paper and the lid interior has crossed red leather bands, held by dome headed studs, to hold cards and notes. The top has a good gilt brass swan neck handle and the unnamed lock is a two lever with a gilt brass lozenge shaped escutcheon. The key has a bone label to the ring numbered VIII. The box has blind tooled tramlines as decoration to the top and sides.

Although there is no name to the box, there are several empty envelopes, with sealing wax and addressed to the Marchioness of Salisbury, Royal Hotel, Weymouth, Dorset. The Salisbury family were heavily connected with politics with the 2nd Marquess a conservative serving under the Earl of Derby and his son Robert becoming Prime Minster three times. It would not be uncommon for such a landed family to have a box like this and it's possible that the 2nd Marquess, known as Lord Cranborne until 1823, was the original purchaser of the box from Powell. Given that there is no name or office marked to the box it would suggest that it was for personal use. Early 19th century.