What is a Georgian writing slope?

A Georgian writing slope is a portable tabletop box featuring an inclined surface designed to facilitate writing and store correspondence during the 18th and early 19th centuries.

What materials were traditionally used to construct 18th-century writing boxes?

These pieces were primarily crafted from solid native hardwoods such as oak, mahogany, or walnut, often featuring hand-dovetailed joints and cast brass hardware.

How can you identify an authentic 18th-century oak writing box?

Authentic period boxes typically display hand-planed timber surfaces, original brass escutcheons, irregular hand-cut dovetail joinery, and natural oxidation consistent with age.

How can an antique writing slope be styled in a modern interior?

Position the slope on a modern home office desk or a hallway console table as a functional accent for holding correspondence, notebooks, or stationery.

How should period oak writing slopes be cared for and preserved?

Dust regularly with a soft, lint-free cloth and apply a high-quality beeswax polish sparingly once or twice a year to maintain the timber finish.

for sale €404 $438

£345

Yolanda Gray Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Aug 2010

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Tabletop Writing Desk

Id #SA1045140

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Small Antique English 18th Century Georgian Oak Sloped Writing / Stationery / Letter Box / Chest (Circa 1790)

18th century

For Sale by Yolanda Gray Antiques

Description

• Item: Oak Writing Box

• Circa: 1790

• Period: George III

• Provenance: England, UK

• Wood: Solid oak

• 32cm / 12?” / 1ft 0?” wide

• Elegant shaped upstand

• Recessed pen storage area

• Writing slope

• Small upstand to prevent papers sliding

• Working brass hinges

• Working Bramah lock & key

• Internal storage area

• Original colour & patination

• Excellent condition

• Free delivery to England, Wales & Southern Scotland*

• Free 14-day UK returns

Description:

This is a delightful antique English 18th century Georgian solid oak writing box, featuring a sloped surface, with small proportions and a lovely colour, incorporating a working Bramah lock, circa 1790, in excellent condition. The Georgian writing box is decorated with an elegant shaped upstand, with a recessed moulded “well” below, for storing pens (to avoid them sliding off the box) and a sloped hinged lid, which is large enough to accommodate letter or even a modern-day laptop! At the foot of the oak writing box is a small moulded up-stand to prevent items sliding off the slope. The hinged lid is secured by two brass hinges, which open to reveal a useful internal storage area, which is clean, dry, practical and usable. The interior also retains its original floorboards and backboards. The sloped lid is secured by a high quality Bramah lock & working key; the interior would have been for storing valuables, as Bramah locks, at the time, were impenetrable! The back of the box retains its original panels along with the original floor. Overall, this Georgian oak writing box boasts a lovely rich original colour and patination.

Condition Report:

This is a delightful antique English 18th century Georgian solid oak writing box, featuring a sloped surface, with small proportions and a lovely colour, incorporating a working Bramah lock, circa 1790, in excellent condition. The brass hinges are in good working condition and the interior is clean, dry, and usable. The box retains its original lid, floor, sides and back. The sloped lid is secured by a high quality Bramah lock & working key; the interior would have been for storing valuables, as Bramah locks, at the time, were impenetrable! The Georgian oak writing box boasts its original colour and patination to the exterior. The oak box is solid in joint; it does not wobble on the floor and is ready to use.

Price:

The price for this item is £345 which includes free delivery to mainland England, Wales & southern Scotland* and free 14-day returns.

Free UK Delivery*:

We offer free delivery to mainland England, Wales, and Southern Scotland (anywhere south of Stirling). *We do not offer free delivery to locations north of Stirling in Scotland, Northern Ireland, or any British Islands off the mainland; for example, the Isle of Man, Isle of White and Channel Islands.

International Buyers:

If you live outside the UK and you would like to purchase this item, please contact us before purchasing it, so that we can obtain an accurate shipping quote and delivery lead-time. The shipping quote provided is a global estimate only. The actual shipping cost will vary by country and postcode.

About the Seller:

This item is being sold by Yola Gray Antiques who is an accredited member of LAPADA (the UK’s largest Trade Association of Professional Art and Antique Dealers) and CINOA.

Ref 84081

Physical Dimensions

Height

18.5cm (7.28")

Width

32cm (12.60")

Depth

33.5cm (13.19")

Declaration

Yolanda Gray Antiques has dated this Georgian Oak Writing Slope to the 18th Century.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1045140

Dealers Internal Reference

84081

Dealers Notes

Please contact us on 01829 458 070 or 07960 738 212 to arrange a viewing. Alternatively, please email: info@yolagray.com

Description

• Item: Oak Writing Box

• Circa: 1790

• Period: George III

• Provenance: England, UK

• Wood: Solid oak

• 32cm / 12?” / 1ft 0?” wide

• Elegant shaped upstand

• Recessed pen storage area

• Writing slope

• Small upstand to prevent papers sliding

fig 1. An 18th-century Georgian dark oak sloped writing box featuring a hinged slanted top lid, a single drawer with a keyhole, and a decorative shaped back gallery. — fig 1. Small Antique English 18th Century Georgian Oak Sloped Writing / Stationery / Letter Box / Chest (Circa 1790)

• Working brass hinges

• Working Bramah lock & key

• Internal storage area

• Original colour & patination

• Excellent condition

• Free delivery to England, Wales & Southern Scotland*

• Free 14-day UK returns

fig 2. An 18th-century Georgian dark oak sloped writing box featuring a hinged slanted top lid, a single drawer with a keyhole, and a decorative shaped back gallery. — fig 2. Small Antique English 18th Century Georgian Oak Sloped Writing / Stationery / Letter Box / Chest (Circa 1790)

Description:

This is a delightful antique English 18th century Georgian solid oak writing box, featuring a sloped surface, with small proportions and a lovely colour, incorporating a working Bramah lock, circa 1790, in excellent condition. The Georgian writing box is decorated with an elegant shaped upstand, with a recessed moulded “well” below, for storing pens (to avoid them sliding off the box) and a sloped hinged lid, which is large enough to accommodate letter or even a modern-day laptop! At the foot of the oak writing box is a small moulded up-stand to prevent items sliding off the slope.

“

The hinged lid is secured by two brass hinges, which open to reveal a useful internal storage area, which is clean, dry, practical and usable.

Yolanda Gray Antiques

The interior also retains its original floorboards and backboards. The sloped lid is secured by a high quality Bramah lock & working key; the interior would have been for storing valuables, as Bramah locks, at the time, were impenetrable! The back of the box retains its original panels along with the original floor. Overall, this Georgian oak writing box boasts a lovely rich original colour and patination.

fig 3. An 18th-century Georgian dark oak sloped writing box featuring a hinged slanted top lid, a single drawer with a keyhole, and a decorative shaped back gallery. — fig 3. Small Antique English 18th Century Georgian Oak Sloped Writing / Stationery / Letter Box / Chest (Circa 1790)

Condition Report:

This is a delightful antique English 18th century Georgian solid oak writing box, featuring a sloped surface, with small proportions and a lovely colour, incorporating a working Bramah lock, circa 1790, in excellent condition. The brass hinges are in good working condition and the interior is clean, dry, and usable. The box retains its original lid, floor, sides and back. The sloped lid is secured by a high quality Bramah lock & working key; the interior would have been for storing valuables, as Bramah locks, at the time, were impenetrable! The Georgian oak writing box boasts its original colour and patination to the exterior. The oak box is solid in joint; it does not wobble on the floor and is ready to use.

fig 4. An 18th-century Georgian dark oak sloped writing box featuring a hinged slanted top lid, a single drawer with a keyhole, and a decorative shaped back gallery. — fig 4. Small Antique English 18th Century Georgian Oak Sloped Writing / Stationery / Letter Box / Chest (Circa 1790)

Price:

The price for this item is £345 which includes free delivery to mainland England, Wales & southern Scotland* and free 14-day returns.

Free UK Delivery*:

We offer free delivery to mainland England, Wales, and Southern Scotland (anywhere south of Stirling). *We do not offer free delivery to locations north of Stirling in Scotland, Northern Ireland, or any British Islands off the mainland; for example, the Isle of Man, Isle of White and Channel Islands.

fig 5. An 18th-century Georgian dark oak sloped writing box featuring a hinged slanted top lid, a single drawer with a keyhole, and a decorative shaped back gallery. — fig 5. Small Antique English 18th Century Georgian Oak Sloped Writing / Stationery / Letter Box / Chest (Circa 1790)

International Buyers:

If you live outside the UK and you would like to purchase this item, please contact us before purchasing it, so that we can obtain an accurate shipping quote and delivery lead-time. The shipping quote provided is a global estimate only. The actual shipping cost will vary by country and postcode.

About the Seller:

This item is being sold by Yola Gray Antiques who is an accredited member of LAPADA (the UK’s largest Trade Association of Professional Art and Antique Dealers) and CINOA.

Ref 84081