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Antique English Jennens & Bettridge Paper Mache Ladies Writing Box or Lap Desk

About the Item

This antique writing box or lap desk was made by the highly renowned Jennens & Bettridge of England in approximately 1880 and done in the period Victorian style. The box is constructed of paper mache which has been treated with a lacquer finish or Japanned and decorated with hand-painted flowers with gilt accents. The box has a scalloped shaped top and base and opens into a writing surface with a compartment for pens ink and a compartment for letters and envelopes. These lap desks were common in Victorian homes and were used for writing letters and as decoration when not in use.
  • Creator:
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 3.5 in (8.89 cm)Width: 13 in (33.02 cm)Depth: 10.25 in (26.04 cm)
  • Style:
    Victorian (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Paper,Hand-Painted,Japanned,Machine-Made
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1880
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Some wear to the japanned finish and hand-painted decoration, and some inlay may be missing. The inner liner is shows wear and there is no ink bottle or lock & key, and a small piece of edge molding is missing. The top shows alligatoring as presented.
  • Seller Location:
    Hamilton, CA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1355228395422
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