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ID #SA1102207
FOR SALE
£950
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19th-century Sri-lankan Ebony Writing Box
For sale by Colton Antiques
for sale €1,112     $1,207
£950

Colton Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Oct 2024
Browse dealers 67 items
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Id #SA1102207
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19th-century Sri-lankan Ebony Writing Box

19th century
For Sale by Colton Antiques
Description

A 19th-century colonial writing box crafted from solid ebony. The box is defined by its elegant colonial design, showcasing fine period joinery and a highly detailed finish throughout the solid ebony construction. The lid opens smoothly to reveal a meticulously configured interior with fitted compartments, highlighting the crisp internal layout and expert hand-craftsmanship characteristic of high-quality traditional Sri Lankan cabinetry.

The piece is in showroom condition. It is ready for immediate use in the home.

Dimensions:

* Length: 42.5 cm

* Width: 24.5 cm

* Height: 15.5 cm

Declaration

Colton Antiques has dated this Antique Ebony Writing Box to the Victorian era.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1102207
Dealers Internal Reference
001
Dealers Notes

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or to request additional photographs of this item.

Shipping arrangements will be handled with ease on a case-by-case basis; please inquire for further details.

If you are seeking a specific piece, kindly get in touch, as our display consists of a limited section. We would be pleased to assist you.

Description
A 19th-century colonial writing box crafted from solid ebony.
“
The box is defined by its elegant colonial design, showcasing fine period joinery and a highly detailed finish throughout the solid ebony construction.
Colton Antiques

The lid opens smoothly to reveal a meticulously configured interior with fitted compartments, highlighting the crisp internal layout and expert hand-craftsmanship characteristic of high-quality traditional Sri Lankan cabinetry.

The piece is in showroom condition. It is ready for immediate use in the home.

Dimensions:

Length: 42.5 cm

Width: 24.5 cm

Height: 15.5 cm

Date of Manufacture

Colton Antiques has dated this Antique Ebony Writing Box to the Victorian era.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1102207
Dealers Internal Ref
001
Colton Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Oct 2024
Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Colton Antiques Profile Page

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A rectangular 19th-century black ebony wood writing box featuring horizontal reeded carving, a brass escutcheon, and an inserted key.
1 / 9
Archive I A rectangular 19th-century black ebony wood writing box featuring horizontal reeded carving, a brass escutcheon, and an inserted key.

19th-century Sri-lankan Ebony Writing Box

Archive II A rectangular 19th-century black ebony wood writing box featuring horizontal reeded carving, a brass escutcheon, and an inserted key. View II
Archive III A rectangular 19th-century black ebony wood writing box featuring horizontal reeded carving, a brass escutcheon, and an inserted key. View III
Archive IV A rectangular 19th-century black ebony wood writing box featuring horizontal reeded carving, a brass escutcheon, and an inserted key. View IV
Archive V A rectangular 19th-century black ebony wood writing box featuring horizontal reeded carving, a brass escutcheon, and an inserted key. View V
Archive VI A rectangular 19th-century black ebony wood writing box featuring horizontal reeded carving, a brass escutcheon, and an inserted key. View VI
Archive VII A rectangular 19th-century black ebony wood writing box featuring horizontal reeded carving, a brass escutcheon, and an inserted key. View VII
Archive VIII A rectangular 19th-century black ebony wood writing box featuring horizontal reeded carving, a brass escutcheon, and an inserted key. View VIII
Archive IX A rectangular 19th-century black ebony wood writing box featuring horizontal reeded carving, a brass escutcheon, and an inserted key. View IX
Enlarged Archival View

Colton Antiques
Telephone 07973 797098
Location
Essex
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/colton
Verified Since Oct 2024
Items For Sale 67
Items Sold 14
Colton Antiques
Verified Since Oct 2024
View Dealer Info
Location: Essex, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/colton
Verified
Oct 2024
For Sale
67
Sold
14
A rectangular 19th-century black ebony wood writing box featuring horizontal reeded carving, a brass escutcheon, and an inserted key.
19th-Century Sri-Lankan Ebony Writing Box
Ref: SA1102207
A rectangular 19th-century black ebony wood writing box featuring horizontal reeded carving, a brass escutcheon, and an inserted key.
Detail View 1
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Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectWriting Boxes
  • Period19th century
  • StyleAnglo-Indian Colonial
  • MaterialEbony, Brass
  • ColourBlack
  • MotifsReeded carving, Brass keyhole escutcheon, Hinged lid, Rectangular form

This 19th-century Sri-Lankan writing box is from the Victorian period in the Anglo-Indian colonial style. The piece takes a rectangular form made from solid ebony in a black colour with a detailed finish. The exterior displays horizontal reeded carving, a brass keyhole escutcheon with an inserted key, and small brass hinges visible along the lower edge and side. Measuring 42.5 cm long, 24.5 cm wide and 15.5 cm high, the box has a hinged lid that opens to reveal internal fitted compartments. The piece is suitable for placement on an office desk in a gentleman's library or study. The box provides practical desktop storage for correspondence, stationery and personal items while serving as a decorative accessory on a study table, office desk or sideboard. Its traditional Sri Lankan cabinetry and showroom condition make it ready for daily use in a home interior. The solid wood construction and classic colonial design integrate easily into traditional or contemporary workspaces as a functional organizer for small documents and writing equipment.

FAQs

During the nineteenth century, skilled artisans in Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) crafted fine woodenware using native hardwoods such as ebony and satinwood. These items were widely acquired by foreign officials and traders as luxury writing accessories and portable document storage.

Colonial writing boxes were primarily constructed from solid hardwoods like ebony, calamander, or teak. Exterior detailing often featured hand-carved reeding or relief patterns, paired with brass locks, hinges, and escutcheons.

Authentic nineteenth-century ebony pieces display significant weight due to the density of the timber, deep dark tone, and subtle signs of hand-tooling or age-appropriate oxidisation on brass components. Dovetail joints and hand-cut screws are standard structural features of the period.

An antique writing box functions as a refined focal point on an office desk, library table, or sideboard. Its dark tone and tactile reeded exterior contrast effectively against lighter natural materials, glass, or stone surfaces.

Dust the surface regularly with a dry, lint-free microfibre cloth. To prevent the timber from cracking, maintain stable ambient humidity levels and keep the item away from direct sunlight or heat sources, applying a clear natural beeswax sparingly when necessary.
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