What is a Victorian stationery cabinet?

A Victorian stationery cabinet is a tabletop storage piece designed in the 19th century to organise writing paper, envelopes, pens, inkwells, and correspondence accessories.

What materials were used to craft antique stationery cabinets?

High-end cabinets were frequently constructed from dense hardwoods or exotic veneers such as coromandel, rosewood, and mahogany, often featuring brass fittings, velvet-lined compartments, and working lock mechanisms.

How do you identify an authentic late 19th-century stationery cabinet?

Authentic pieces typically feature hand-cut dovetail joints, period-accurate brass hardware, original makers marks or retailer stamped plates, and natural wood grain showing authentic age-related patina.

How can an antique stationery cabinet be styled in a modern interior?

Position the cabinet on a modern executive office desk, console table, or sideboard to serve as a functional accent piece and storage unit for modern stationery and accessories.

How should coromandel wood and metal fittings be preserved?

Keep the cabinet away from direct heat sources and sunlight to prevent wood shrinkage or finish fading, and clean the surfaces gently using a high-grade beeswax polish applied with a soft microfibre cloth.

for sale €2,750 $2,985

£2,350

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Antique Coromandel Writing / Stationary Cabinet by Houghton and Gunn Dated 1878

Name: Antique Coromandel Writing / Stationary Cabinet by Houghton and Gunn Dated 1878
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1082337
Price: 2350 GBP
Availability: InStock

19th century

For Sale by Regent Antiques

Description

A very fine antique Victorian Coromandel writing or stationary cabinet made by the world famous London box makers and retailers Houghton and Gunn, dated December 1878.

The wonderful antique fall front is centred by a silvered AH monogram beneath a coronet and opening to reveal an arrangement of labelled pigeon holes, a fold out letter rack, small books, and pull out ink and pen compartments.

If features a secret compartment on the right side which can be opened by pulling the right hand side divider, ideal for playing cards and dice.

There is no mistaking its unique quality and design, which is sure to make it a treasured piece by any discerning collector.

Coromandel, also known as Calamander wood, is a higly prized and valuable exotic wood from India and Sri Lanka and was only used in top quality pieces.

Complete with working Bramah lock, the lock is stamped Batson for Henry John & Albert Edward Batson.

It bears both the maker's and the retailer's plaque:

'HOUGHTON & GUN, 162 NEW BOND STREET'

This is centred by a Victorian date 'lozenge' for December 1878

Condition:

In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 36 cm x Width 41 cm x Depth 18 cm

Dimensions in inches:

Height 1 foot, 2 inches x Width 1 foot, 4 inches x Depth 7 inches

Houghton & Gunn

William Houghton originally established his business in 1822. By 1841, he was based at 162 Bond Street, London. It wasn’t until 1868 that he went into partnership with Charles Henry Gunn. Known as Houghton & Gunn, the business remained at the same Bond Street address until it was bought out by Asprey (its next door neighbour) in 1906.

Coromandel wood or Calamander wood

is a valuable wood from India, Sri Lanka and South East Asia. It is of a hazel-brown color, with black stripes (or the other way about), very heavy and hard. It is also known as Macassar Ebony or variegated ebony and is closely related to genuine ebony, but is obtained from different species in the same genus; one of these is Diospyros quaesita Thwaites, from Sri Lanka. The name Calamander comes from the local sinhalese name, 'kalu-medhiriya', which means dark chamber; referring to the characteristic ebony black wood.

Coromandel wood has been logged to extinction over the last 2 to 3 hundred years and is no longer available for new work in any quantity. Furniture in coromandel is so expensive and so well looked after that even recycling it is an unlikely source. A substitute, Macassar Ebony, has similar characteristics and to the untrained eye is nearly the same but it lacks the depth of colour seen in genuine Coromandel.

Our reference: A3866

Physical Dimensions

Height

36cm (14.17")

Width

41cm (16.14")

Depth

18cm (7.09")

Declaration

Regent Antiques has dated this Victorian Coromandel Stationery Cabinet to the 1870s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1082337

Dealers Internal Reference

A3866

Description

A very fine antique Victorian Coromandel writing or stationary cabinet made by the world famous London box makers and retailers Houghton and Gunn, dated December 1878.

The wonderful antique fall front is centred by a silvered AH monogram beneath a coronet and opening to reveal an arrangement of labelled pigeon holes, a fold out letter rack, small books, and pull out ink and pen compartments.

“

If features a secret compartment on the right side which can be opened by pulling the right hand side divider, ideal for playing cards and dice.

Regent Antiques

fig 1. A Victorian dark brown coromandel wood stationery cabinet with dramatic striped grain, top brass handle, and silver monogram emblem on the front flap. — fig 1. Antique Coromandel Writing / Stationary Cabinet by Houghton and Gunn Dated 1878

There is no mistaking its unique quality and design, which is sure to make it a treasured piece by any discerning collector.

Coromandel, also known as Calamander wood, is a higly prized and valuable exotic wood from India and Sri Lanka and was only used in top quality pieces.

fig 2. A Victorian dark brown coromandel wood stationery cabinet with dramatic striped grain, top brass handle, and silver monogram emblem on the front flap. — fig 2. Antique Coromandel Writing / Stationary Cabinet by Houghton and Gunn Dated 1878

Complete with working Bramah lock, the lock is stamped Batson for Henry John & Albert Edward Batson.

It bears both the maker's and the retailer's plaque:

'HOUGHTON & GUN, 162 NEW BOND STREET'

This is centred by a Victorian date 'lozenge' for December 1878

fig 3. A Victorian dark brown coromandel wood stationery cabinet with dramatic striped grain, top brass handle, and silver monogram emblem on the front flap. — fig 3. Antique Coromandel Writing / Stationary Cabinet by Houghton and Gunn Dated 1878

Condition:

In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 36 cm x Width 41 cm x Depth 18 cm

Dimensions in inches:

fig 4. A Victorian dark brown coromandel wood stationery cabinet with dramatic striped grain, top brass handle, and silver monogram emblem on the front flap. — fig 4. Antique Coromandel Writing / Stationary Cabinet by Houghton and Gunn Dated 1878

Height 1 foot, 2 inches x Width 1 foot, 4 inches x Depth 7 inches

Houghton & Gunn

William Houghton originally established his business in 1822. By 1841, he was based at 162 Bond Street, London. It wasn’t until 1868 that he went into partnership with Charles Henry Gunn. Known as Houghton & Gunn, the business remained at the same Bond Street address until it was bought out by Asprey (its next door neighbour) in 1906.

fig 5. A Victorian dark brown coromandel wood stationery cabinet with dramatic striped grain, top brass handle, and silver monogram emblem on the front flap. — fig 5. Antique Coromandel Writing / Stationary Cabinet by Houghton and Gunn Dated 1878

Coromandel wood or Calamander wood

is a valuable wood from India, Sri Lanka and South East Asia. It is of a hazel-brown color, with black stripes (or the other way about), very heavy and hard. It is also known as Macassar Ebony or variegated ebony and is closely related to genuine ebony, but is obtained from different species in the same genus; one of these is Diospyros quaesita Thwaites, from Sri Lanka. The name Calamander comes from the local sinhalese name, 'kalu-medhiriya', which means dark chamber; referring to the characteristic ebony black wood.

fig 6. A Victorian dark brown coromandel wood stationery cabinet with dramatic striped grain, top brass handle, and silver monogram emblem on the front flap. — fig 6. Antique Coromandel Writing / Stationary Cabinet by Houghton and Gunn Dated 1878

Coromandel wood has been logged to extinction over the last 2 to 3 hundred years and is no longer available for new work in any quantity. Furniture in coromandel is so expensive and so well looked after that even recycling it is an unlikely source. A substitute, Macassar Ebony, has similar characteristics and to the untrained eye is nearly the same but it lacks the depth of colour seen in genuine Coromandel.

Our reference: A3866