Object Description
A red leather on softwood Despatch Box by Wickwar of Poland Street, London.
The box is fitted with an unmarked Bramah type lock, which has a replaced key. Once unlocked, the round escutcheon also has to be slid to one side for the box to open. The lid has a full length brass hinges and brass quadrant supports. The interior is lined in black leather with raised edges to the base section, to ensure a tight fit to the top. The lid interior has criss-crossed leather straps fixed with small brass studs to hold papers etc.
The top of the box has a large brass, decoratively shaped campaign carrying handle and is tooled with the owner’s initials of ‘M.T.C’. The box is also blind tooled with lines to the edges, around the handle and around the escutcheon.
Wickwar are one of the most recognised names for the manufacture of despatch boxes and supplied HM Stationery Office. They were in existence from 1823 to 1899. More can be read about them in Makers on our website www.campaignfurniture.com. Late 19th century.