Mid-Victorian Rosewood Box

A handsome mid-Victorian rosewood box with beautifully figured veneers and a deep, warm patina. The front has an inlaid mother-of-pearl escutcheon framed in brass, and the lid has a vacant cartouche for initials, set within fine inlaid stringing.

Its best feature is a concealed secret drawer in the base. It is released by a hidden brass pin inside the box and slides out to reveal three compartments lined in burgundy velvet, ideal for rings, cufflinks or small keepsakes.

The lid is lined in red, with a recessed frame that likely once held a mirror, which suggests the box began life as a dressing or vanity box. The main compartment is empty and unlined, giving generous storage for jewellery, letters, watches or collectables. It has its original brass hinges and lock plate.

Dimensions: approx. 28 cm W x 20 cm D x 17 cm H
Lock and key:no key
Condition: Good for its age. There is wear to the paper lining along the lid's hinge edge, minor marks to the interior base, and light scratches and small shrinkage lines to the veneers, as you'd expect. The original interior fittings are no longer present. The secret drawer mechanism works well.

A charming piece of 19th-century craftsmanship with a hidden surprise.