{"product_id":"antique-victorian-rosewood-satinwood-lap-desk","title":"Antique Victorian Rosewood \u0026 Satinwood Lap Desk","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThis little lap desk earns its keep through the corners. Rosewood and satinwood run in alternating bands across every face, and at each corner the strips are mitered to meet in a perfect point, no small feat of hand veneer work. Lift the lid and a red velvet panel and a small fitted till are still doing their Victorian job, though not without some wear along the way.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[d]Dimensions | 10 in. W x 2.75 in. H x 7 in. D\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e[d]Surface | Original veneer surface and finish, not stripped or refinished. The banded veneer has age splits along strip seams in a few separate spots; all veneer is secure and firmly adhered, none is missing, discussed in the condition report below\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[d]Primary Material | Rosewood and satinwood, banded veneer over a wood carcase\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[d]Period | Victorian\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[d]Date | Mid to late 19th century, estimated from construction and style. No maker's mark or dated feature present to fix a specific year\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[d]Origin | Attributed to England on the strength of the lock hardware and the general tradition of Victorian banded specimen wood boxes. Flagged for your confirmation, since boxes in this exact banded style were also made in Ceylon for the English export market in the same period\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[d]Style | Victorian, banded specimen wood parquetry\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[d]Also Known As | specimen wood box, banded parquetry box\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[d]Marks | Brass lock plate stamped SECURE LEVER, a common English lock stock stamp rather than a maker's mark for the box itself. No maker's mark found on the box\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[d]Construction | Hand cut and mitered banded veneer parquetry over a wood carcase, mother of pearl escutcheon inset around the keyhole, brass butt hinges, small fitted till to one side with a turned pull\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[d]Hardware | Brass hinges, brass lever lock, no key, mother of pearl keyhole escutcheon\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[d]Secondary Material | Mother of pearl, brass, and a turned bone or shell pull to the till\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[condition]\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThis box is in honest, workable antique condition with real wear. There is no key, so the lock cannot be tested, though the mechanism and mother of pearl escutcheon are intact. The banded veneer has developed age splits along strip seams in a few separate spots across the top and sides. All of the veneer is secure and firmly adhered, nothing is loose or missing. Splitting like this is typical in veneer this old and comes from natural wood movement over time, not mishandling. Inside, the paper lining shows staining, and the red velvet panel on the underside of the lid has faded unevenly, shifting from red to a deeper magenta pink along one side, with the pile thinned and worn in that same area. The small fitted till to one side of the interior is missing one of its dividing pieces. The base carries two old paper labels from a prior prop rental company, along with remnants of a green felt backing. The brass hinges are sound and the lid opens and closes cleanly. Please review all photographs closely, as they form part of this description.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Austyn Marie Design","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51753720938774,"sku":"AMD-13653","price":1000.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0896\/4623\/5926\/files\/Belgium_FranceContainerInventory-10713.jpg?v=1787610969","url":"https:\/\/austyn-marie-design.myshopify.com\/products\/antique-victorian-rosewood-satinwood-lap-desk","provider":"Austyn Marie Design","version":"1.0","type":"link"}