What is a Regency campaign writing slope?

A Regency campaign writing slope is a portable timber box designed in the early 19th century to carry writing paper, ink, and pens, constructed with brass reinforced edges and flush hardware for protection during travel.

What materials were used to construct 19th-century writing slopes?

These boxes were crafted using high-grade hardwoods such as rosewood, mahogany, and walnut, complemented by brass stringing inlay, cast escutcheons, and velvet or leather writing surfaces inside.

How can you identify an authentic period writing slope?

Authentic period examples feature flush brass corner mounts, dovetailed joinery, period lock mechanisms, and light oxidisation across the original brass fittings.

How do you style an antique writing box in a modern interior?

Position the writing slope closed on an executive desk, sideboard, or library bookshelf to serve as an accent piece, or display it partially open on a side table.

How should wood and brass writing slopes be cared for?

Position the piece away from direct sunlight and heat sources, clean the timber using neutral beeswax, and polish the brass gently without unseating the flush inlay.

for sale €790 $857

£675

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Regency Writing Box

Campaign Writing Desk

Brass Inlay Writing Box

Id #SA988628

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Antique Regency Campaign Writing Slope Brass Mounts Circa 1820 19th C

Name: Antique Regency Campaign Writing Slope Brass Mounts Circa 1820 19th C
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA988628
Price: 675 GBP
Availability: InStock

19th century

For Sale by Regent Antiques

Description

An elegant Regency brass mounted Gonçalo Alves campaign writing slope, circa 1820 in date.

The beautifully polished goncalo alves case has a wonderful age-related patina and a key lockable hinged top with inset brass beading and plaques, including one engraved '1824'.

Inside, there is a lift-up gold tooled red leather writing surface with stationery box and divisions, that features two ink well comparments.

The side carrying handles fold flat within the sides of the box in true campaign style.

Complete with working lock and key.

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

Condition:

In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 12.5 x Width 40.5 x Depth 23.5

Dimensions in inches:

Height 5 inches x Width 1 foot, 4 inches x Depth 9 inches

Campaign furniture,

also known as British campaign furniture, was designed to be packed up and carried. Its origins can be traced back as far as the Roman armies of Julius Caesar. In Europe, most of the surviving pieces are from Napoleon's campaigns in the 19th century.

Gonçalo Alves is a hardwood (from the Portuguese name, Gonçalo Alves). It is sometimes referred to as tigerwood — a name that underscore the wood’s often dramatic, contrasting color scheme.

While the sapwood is very light in color, the heartwood is a sombre brown, with dark streaks that give it a unique look. The wood’s color deepens with exposure and age and even the plainer-looking wood has a natural luster.

Two species are usually listed as sources for gonçalo alves: Astronium fraxinifolium and Astronium graveolens, although other species in the genus may yield similar wood; the amount of striping that is present may vary.

In the high tropical forests of Central and South America, well-drained soils furnish nutrients for a variety of dense, durable hardwoods sought for maritime use, heavyconstruction, and furniture. The Spanish began harvesting in Latin American forests in the early 1500s to provide timber for boatbuilding and repair. By the early 1900s, however, steel ships had replaced wooden ones, and the interest in tropical forests by both Europeans and Americans shifted to appearance-grade woods for furniture.

Although history fails to provide us with a shopping list of species from either harvest period, it's probable that the wood we know today as goncalo alves has always been sought. That's because goncalo alves, considered one of the most beautiful of tropical woods, has a tough reputation, too. Strong and durable, it's used for construction in its homeland and secondarily for fine furniture. Woodworkers elsewhere treasure the wood for decorative items and veneer accents.

Our reference: A3291

Physical Dimensions

Height

12.5cm (4.92")

Width

40.5cm (15.94")

Depth

23.5cm (9.25")

Declaration

Regent Antiques has dated this Antique Campaign Writing Slope to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA988628

Dealers Internal Reference

A3291

Description

An elegant Regency brass mounted Gonçalo Alves campaign writing slope, circa 1820 in date.

“

The beautifully polished goncalo alves case has a wonderful age-related patina and a key lockable hinged top with inset brass beading and plaques, including one engraved '1824'.

Regent Antiques

fig 1. A dark brown rosewood writing slope box with linear brass inlays, brass corner star motifs, a central brass cartouche, and a key fitted in the escutcheon. — fig 1. Antique Regency Campaign Writing Slope Brass Mounts Circa 1820 19th C

Inside, there is a lift-up gold tooled red leather writing surface with stationery box and divisions, that features two ink well comparments.

The side carrying handles fold flat within the sides of the box in true campaign style.

fig 2. A dark brown rosewood writing slope box with linear brass inlays, brass corner star motifs, a central brass cartouche, and a key fitted in the escutcheon. — fig 2. Antique Regency Campaign Writing Slope Brass Mounts Circa 1820 19th C

Complete with working lock and key.

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

Condition:

In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation.

fig 3. A dark brown rosewood writing slope box with linear brass inlays, brass corner star motifs, a central brass cartouche, and a key fitted in the escutcheon. — fig 3. Antique Regency Campaign Writing Slope Brass Mounts Circa 1820 19th C

Dimensions in cm:

Height 12.5 x Width 40.5 x Depth 23.5

Dimensions in inches:

Height 5 inches x Width 1 foot, 4 inches x Depth 9 inches

Campaign furniture,

also known as British campaign furniture, was designed to be packed up and carried. Its origins can be traced back as far as the Roman armies of Julius Caesar. In Europe, most of the surviving pieces are from Napoleon's campaigns in the 19th century.

fig 4. A dark brown rosewood writing slope box with linear brass inlays, brass corner star motifs, a central brass cartouche, and a key fitted in the escutcheon. — fig 4. Antique Regency Campaign Writing Slope Brass Mounts Circa 1820 19th C

Gonçalo Alves is a hardwood (from the Portuguese name, Gonçalo Alves). It is sometimes referred to as tigerwood — a name that underscore the wood’s often dramatic, contrasting color scheme.

While the sapwood is very light in color, the heartwood is a sombre brown, with dark streaks that give it a unique look. The wood’s color deepens with exposure and age and even the plainer-looking wood has a natural luster.

fig 5. A dark brown rosewood writing slope box with linear brass inlays, brass corner star motifs, a central brass cartouche, and a key fitted in the escutcheon. — fig 5. Antique Regency Campaign Writing Slope Brass Mounts Circa 1820 19th C

Two species are usually listed as sources for gonçalo alves: Astronium fraxinifolium and Astronium graveolens, although other species in the genus may yield similar wood; the amount of striping that is present may vary.

fig 6. A dark brown rosewood writing slope box with linear brass inlays, brass corner star motifs, a central brass cartouche, and a key fitted in the escutcheon. — fig 6. Antique Regency Campaign Writing Slope Brass Mounts Circa 1820 19th C

In the high tropical forests of Central and South America, well-drained soils furnish nutrients for a variety of dense, durable hardwoods sought for maritime use, heavyconstruction, and furniture. The Spanish began harvesting in Latin American forests in the early 1500s to provide timber for boatbuilding and repair. By the early 1900s, however, steel ships had replaced wooden ones, and the interest in tropical forests by both Europeans and Americans shifted to appearance-grade woods for furniture.

fig 7. A dark brown rosewood writing slope box with linear brass inlays, brass corner star motifs, a central brass cartouche, and a key fitted in the escutcheon. — fig 7. Antique Regency Campaign Writing Slope Brass Mounts Circa 1820 19th C

Although history fails to provide us with a shopping list of species from either harvest period, it's probable that the wood we know today as goncalo alves has always been sought. That's because goncalo alves, considered one of the most beautiful of tropical woods, has a tough reputation, too. Strong and durable, it's used for construction in its homeland and secondarily for fine furniture. Woodworkers elsewhere treasure the wood for decorative items and veneer accents.

Our reference: A3291