What is a brass mounted letter box?

A brass mounted letter box is a wooden desk box or wall-mounted receptacle fitted with brass straps and hinges for storing or receiving post. These pieces were standard desk accessories in Victorian and Edwardian studies, country houses and hotels.

How were stationery boxes used?

Stationery boxes were used to keep writing paper, envelopes and correspondence organised on a desk or writing table. Many included slots for letters, small drawers for stamps, and spaces for inkstands.

What woods are typical for these boxes?

The most common timbers found on these pieces are oak, walnut, burr walnut and coromandel wood. Exotic woods like coromandel and figured walnut indicate higher status pieces made for wealthy households.

How do I date a Victorian letter box?

Dating relies on combining the timber choice, decorative style and construction methods visible on the piece. Victorian Gothic Revival pieces often date to the mid-nineteenth century, while simpler oak versions frequently point towards the Edwardian era.