Antique Travelling Desk
These pieces for an antique travelling desk encompass portable clocks, writing boxes and inkwells designed for mobility.
Antique Travelling Desk
When a buyer investigates an antique travelling desk, they encounter items built for movement across the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian eras. These portable objects include carriage clocks, writing slopes, inkwells and campaign chests.
Brass carriage clocks dominate the selection, often housed in glass-panelled cases with handles for transit. Writing boxes and campaign furniture in mahogany also appear, equipped with fitted interiors and secret compartments.
Origins stretch from English workshops to French makers in Paris, alongside specific pieces from Ottoman regions and Swiss movements. Buyers regularly select these compact containers and timepieces for their functional design.
Materials and construction
Brass and gilt brass provide the structural frames for most carriage clocks, combined with bevelled glass panels to protect the internal movements. Mahogany timber forms the carcasses for writing slopes and campaign chests, paired with brass corners and flush handles.
Leather, silver, nickel and enamel supplement these primary components. Travel cases utilise leather bindings, whilst inkwells combine glass bodies with silver plate or sterling silver mountings.
Armenian brass pen cases double as inkwells designed to hang securely from a belt.
Factors influencing quality
Standard of execution rests in the refinement of the movement and the crispness of case engraving. Ornate gilt brass and fully engraved brass cases indicate higher craftsmanship than plain brass housings.
The integration of fitted interiors within writing boxes and the presence of original travel cases alter the desirability of a piece. Signed dials by known makers distinguish superior timepieces from unbranded alternatives.
Henri Jacot·Mappin & Webb·Pickford of London·Drocourt Paris·Antoine Redier of Paris·Duverdrey & Bloquel·Latshea & Sons Edinburgh
The Antique Travelling Desk Glossary
- Carriage clock
- A small, spring-driven clock designed for travel during the nineteenth century. These clocks usually feature a brass frame set with glass panels and a folding handle on top.
- Writing slope
- A portable slant-topped box used for correspondence while away from a permanent desk. Inside, compartments hold writing instruments and paper.
- Gorge case
- A distinct rectangular carriage clock case style with moulded top and base edges. This specific housing shape is typical of nineteenth-century French production.
- Campaign chest
- A modular chest of drawers built in sections with brass corners and recessed carrying handles. Officers used these sturdy wooden chests during military campaigns.
- Divit
- A traditional portable pen case and inkholder combined in one unit. These items often originate from Ottoman regions.
Antique Travelling Desk: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a carriage clock?
A carriage clock is a portable spring-driven timepiece created for travellers in the nineteenth century. They are housed in brass and glass cases with folding handles.
Most examples operate for eight days on a single wind and often include striking mechanisms or repeat functions.
How do you use a writing slope?
A writing slope opens to reveal an inclined writing surface lined with leather or velvet. Interior compartments store stationery, inkwells and pens.
Secret compartments often conceal hidden drawers for storing valuables during journeys.
How are campaign chests different?
Campaign chests are constructed in two or more stackable sections for easy transport by military officers. They feature brass corners to protect the wood from impacts.
Recessed handles prevent snagging during transit between locations.
How do you date a travel clock?
Dating relies on hallmarks on silver cases, maker signatures on dials, and the complexity of the brass movement. Victorian and Edwardian examples show distinct stylistic shifts in handle shapes and escapements.
French pieces from the nineteenth century often include maker stamps on the backplate.