49,263  PAGES BROWSED TODAY PAGES TODAY • 195 ANTIQUES UPLOADED TODAYNEW ARRIVALS
GIFTS
195 ITEMS ADDED TODAY
Sort Order
Items Per Page
Browse Categories
Sort order
Relevant Links
Items per page
ID #SA1245498
FOR SALE
£260
Email Phone Buy
Save
Antique 19th-century French Napoleon III Ebonised Wood and Brass-inlaid Slope-front Desk Box, Writing Slope
For sale by Lee Sherman Antiques
for sale €304     $330
£260
Lee Sherman Antiques

Lee Sherman Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Oct 2019
Browse dealers 56 items
  • About Us
    Sourcing beautiful antiques & collectables from the past three hundred years!
Id #SA1245498
PDF SHARE
SAVE

Antique 19th-century French Napoleon III Ebonised Wood and Brass-inlaid Slope-front Desk Box, Writing Slope

19th century
Description

The item shown in the image is an antique 19th-century French Napoleon III ebonised wood and brass-inlaid slope-front desk box, writing slope, or small tabletop cabinet (often referred to in French as a bureau de pente, document box, or cave à cigares/liqueur style box).

Key Features:

• Period & Origin: Made in France during the Napoleon III period (circa 1850–1870s).

• Materials: Ebonized (black-painted/stained) wood with fine brass line inlay (stringing) and a decorative brass escutcheon or crest plate on the sloped lid around the entire box and base edge.

• Design: Features a slanted, hinged top lid and a pull-out lower drawer with a small turned knob and keyhole.

Date of Manufacture

Lee Sherman Antiques has dated this Ebonised Antique Writing Slope to the 1850s.

Independent Date Check ID 09718486
Dealer's Item Date1850s
Sellingantiques Date1850s
Sellingantiques agingItem 145-180 years old
Test ResultsPassed dating check
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to THE 1850s:
Slotted brass screws fixing the hinges: nineteenth-century ironmongery.
Brass stringing inlay raised slightly by timber shrinkage: movement across old joints.
Ebonised finish worn through to reddish wood at the edges: decades of handling.
Lid interior veneered in burr amboyna: cabinet work of the Second Empire period.
Engraved rococo brass cartouche on the sloped lid: 1850s to 1870s styling.

This is an independent date and photo anotation report compiled by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.

Physical Dimensions
Height
22cm (8.66")
Width
28cm (11.02")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1245498
Dealers Notes

All our items can be purchased directly from the product page via PayPal (See yellow PayPal button on the left) or by contacting us directly if you would prefer to pay via bank transfer.

Our items are professionally and securely packaged. We send either fully tracked or Special Delivery. Please add £15 for small items (objets d'art that fit into a 25 cm x 25 cm box) or £25 for anything larger (large vases, boxes, candlesticks, etc.). Paintings are £30 each to ship. If in doubt, please contact us. Thank you.

Rest of the World Postage:

For worldwide clients, please contact us for shipping costs. Our international deliveries are sent via either Parcelforce, FedEx, or UPS.

All items purchased from Lee Sherman Antiques are covered under the Distance Selling Regulations, which give all buyers the right to cancel the purchase within 7 days after receipt of the item for a full refund, less return transport costs for items received in the condition they were sent.

In the rare event that items or packaging arrive damaged, please take photos on arrival; this will help with any insurance claims.

Please note: Lee Sherman Antiques travels throughout the UK to offer only the finest quality items for sale.

Old-school values with a modern outlook: our emphasis is always on providing a professional, efficient, and personal service to all our clients.

We ship globally (please inquire about shipping costs for any of our items).

All items purchased are usually dispatched within 24–48 hours, following a cleared payment.

Trade enquiries are always welcome.

(TRADE AND INTERIOR DESIGNERS, PLEASE CONTACT FOR TRADE DISCOUNTS FOR MULTIPLE PURCHASES.)

All Items: Porcelain, China, General Antiques, and Collectables:

Please note that all our items are second-hand, vintage, or antique unless stated otherwise. Therefore, all items will have small marks, irregularities, and wear commensurate with age and use. We will always describe obvious damage but not every tiny little imperfection; please see photos for condition; we take many clear, concise shots to allow you a complete overview; and please also note there may be color variation from the screen representation to the actual item.

Please check all photos before buying, ask any questions, or request more photos if you are not sure. We are friendly and helpful and only want you to buy what you want. So please look closely, and if in doubt, contact us or request further photos. We normally respond the same day and always respond within 24 hours or sooner.

Watches/Clocks/Barometers/Mechanical Items: These are not serviced, and no guarantee of performance is offered, although we will point out any obvious issues we are aware of.

We work hard to maintain this level of quality and service.

Please note that any props used to display or support an item are not included in the sale unless clearly stated.

Thank you.

Description
The item shown in the image is an antique 19th-century French Napoleon III ebonised wood and brass-inlaid slope-front desk box, writing slope, or small tabletop cabinet (often referred to in French as a bureau de pente, document box, or cave à cigares/liqueur style box).
fig 1. A 19th-century French Napoleon III ebonised wooden writing slope featuring geometric brass inlay lines, a central brass cartouche on the angled lid, and a lower drawer.
fig 1. Antique 19th-century French Napoleon III Ebonised Wood and Brass-inlaid Slope-front Desk Box, Writing Slope

Key Features:

• Period & Origin: Made in France during the Napoleon III period (circa 1850–1870s).

“
• Materials: Ebonized (black-painted/stained) wood with fine brass line inlay (stringing) and a decorative brass escutcheon or crest plate on the sloped lid around the entire box and base edge.
Lee Sherman Antiques

• Design: Features a slanted, hinged top lid and a pull-out lower drawer with a small turned knob and keyhole.

Date of Manufacture

Lee Sherman Antiques has dated this Ebonised Antique Writing Slope to the 1850s.

Independent Date Report ID 09718486
Dealer's Item Date1850s
Sellingantiques dating1850s
Sellingantiques agingItem 145-180 years old
Test ResultsPassed dating check
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to the 1850s:
Slotted brass screws fixing the hinges: nineteenth-century ironmongery.
Brass stringing inlay raised slightly by timber shrinkage: movement across old joints.
Ebonised finish worn through to reddish wood at the edges: decades of handling.
Lid interior veneered in burr amboyna: cabinet work of the Second Empire period.
Engraved rococo brass cartouche on the sloped lid: 1850s to 1870s styling.

This is an independent date report produced by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.

Height
22cm (8.66")
Width
28cm (11.02")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1245498
Lee Sherman Antiques
Lee Sherman Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Oct 2019

Sourcing beautiful antiques & collectables from the past three hundred years!

Dealer Profile

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

PDF SHARE
SAVE
A 19th-century French Napoleon III ebonised wooden writing slope featuring geometric brass inlay lines, a central brass cartouche on the angled lid, and a lower drawer.
1 / 12
Archive I A 19th-century French Napoleon III ebonised wooden writing slope featuring geometric brass inlay lines, a central brass cartouche on the angled lid, and a lower drawer.

Antique 19th-century French Napoleon III Ebonised Wood and Brass-inlaid Slope-front Desk Box, Writing Slope

Archive II A 19th-century French Napoleon III ebonised wooden writing slope featuring geometric brass inlay lines, a central brass cartouche on the angled lid, and a lower drawer. View II
Archive III A 19th-century French Napoleon III ebonised wooden writing slope featuring geometric brass inlay lines, a central brass cartouche on the angled lid, and a lower drawer. View III
Archive IV A 19th-century French Napoleon III ebonised wooden writing slope featuring geometric brass inlay lines, a central brass cartouche on the angled lid, and a lower drawer. View IV
Archive V A 19th-century French Napoleon III ebonised wooden writing slope featuring geometric brass inlay lines, a central brass cartouche on the angled lid, and a lower drawer. View V
Archive VI A 19th-century French Napoleon III ebonised wooden writing slope featuring geometric brass inlay lines, a central brass cartouche on the angled lid, and a lower drawer. View VI
Archive VII A 19th-century French Napoleon III ebonised wooden writing slope featuring geometric brass inlay lines, a central brass cartouche on the angled lid, and a lower drawer. View VII
Archive VIII A 19th-century French Napoleon III ebonised wooden writing slope featuring geometric brass inlay lines, a central brass cartouche on the angled lid, and a lower drawer. View VIII
Archive IX A 19th-century French Napoleon III ebonised wooden writing slope featuring geometric brass inlay lines, a central brass cartouche on the angled lid, and a lower drawer. View IX
Archive X A 19th-century French Napoleon III ebonised wooden writing slope featuring geometric brass inlay lines, a central brass cartouche on the angled lid, and a lower drawer. View X
Archive XI A 19th-century French Napoleon III ebonised wooden writing slope featuring geometric brass inlay lines, a central brass cartouche on the angled lid, and a lower drawer. View XI
Archive XII A 19th-century French Napoleon III ebonised wooden writing slope featuring geometric brass inlay lines, a central brass cartouche on the angled lid, and a lower drawer. View XII
Enlarged Archival View
Telephone 07970 618 204
Location
St Albans
Hertfordshire
United Kingdom
Verified Since Oct 2019
Items For Sale 56
Items Sold 824
Lee Sherman Antiques
Lee Sherman Antiques
Verified Since Oct 2019
View Dealer Info
Location: St Albans, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
Verified
Oct 2019
For Sale
56
Sold
824
A 19th-century French Napoleon III ebonised wooden writing slope featuring geometric brass inlay lines, a central brass cartouche on the angled lid, and a lower drawer.
Antique 19th-Century French Napoleon Iii Ebonised Wood And Brass-Inlaid Slope-Front Desk Box, Writing Slope
Ref: SA1245498
A 19th-century French Napoleon III ebonised wooden writing slope featuring geometric brass inlay lines, a central brass cartouche on the angled lid, and a lower drawer.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Detail View 5
Detail View 6
Detail View 7
Detail View 8
Detail View 9
Detail View 10
Detail View 11
Archival Detail
Every single antique dealer on our platform is individually approved by our internal team. We verify their professional trade history, ethical standards, and photographic quality to ensure a secure, high-standard buying environment. Upon joining, every dealer agrees to a strict 9-point code of conduct. While issues can occasionally arise, our dealers typically resolve them swiftly and directly with the buyer. In fact, since our founding in 2002, Sellingantiques has only had to step in to help resolve an issue on roughly five occasions—a true testament to the quality of our dealers and their dedication to your happiness.
Our dealers are highly experienced in packing and shipping fragile, high-value antiques. Because you are in direct contact with the dealer, you will be able to easily go through all available shipping and insurance options together to ensure your item arrives safely.
Antiques are the ultimate green purchase. By choosing historical pieces over newly manufactured goods, you completely eliminate the carbon footprint of modern mass production while preserving exceptional, timeless craftsmanship.
Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectDesk Boxes & Writing Slopes
  • Period19th century
  • StyleNapoleon III
  • MaterialEbonised Wood, Brass
  • ColourBlack, Brass Gold
  • MotifsSlope front, Brass inlay stringing, Engraved brass cartouche, Lower drawer
  • SizeH 22 cm (9 in) x W 28 cm (11 in)

This French Napoleon III slope-front desk box originates from the mid-nineteenth century around 1850. The piece is constructed from ebonised wood finished in black with contrasting brass-gold hardware and decorative elements, including fine brass stringing lines, a central engraved brass cartouche on the angled lid, and an intricate brass keyhole surround. Other visible details include a pull-out lower drawer fitted with a small turned round knob and subtle surface wear to the dark timber finish. Measuring 22 cm high by 28 cm wide, the compact box sits comfortably upon an office desk or library table to store documents, letters, or small stationery items in a traditional home study.

Originating in second-half 19th-century France, a Napoleon III writing slope is a compact desktop box featuring an angled lid designed to store paper, pens, and ink while providing an inclined surface for writing.

These boxes typically feature ebonised hardwoods or fruitwoods, decorated with brass stringing inlay, engraved metal cartouches, and polished brass escutcheons.

Authentic pieces demonstrate hand-set brass stringing, natural oxidisation on brass components, period lock escutcheons, and evidence of historical ebonising techniques over solid wood substrates.

Position the box on a contemporary executive office desk, console table, or library shelving to introduce historical character and practical storage for correspondence.

Dust regularly using a dry microfibre cloth, avoid exposure to direct sunlight or humidity, and wax sparingly with clear beeswax polish while avoiding brass cleaners on ebonised areas.
items
Add keywords to the filter
Price
£100
£250000
Era
Period
Style
Material
Origin
Stock Location
Recently Added
Online Payments
Categories