Tooled Leather Writing Slope with a Rustic Scene, circa 1910
Current Bid: | £48.00 |
Bid Increment: | £2.00 |
Next Min Bid: | £50.00 |
Buyer’s Premium: | £11.52 |
Total Amount: | £59.52 |
Number of Bids: | 5 |
Location: | United Kingdom |
Highest Bidder: | User 1359 |
Auction Start: | 08/03/24 23:50:00 UTC |
Auction Ending: | 24/03/24 20:26:00 UTC |
Auction Finished : | 24/03/24 20:26:11 UTC |
LOT NUMBER 14
Tooled Leather Writing Slope with a Rustic Scene, circa 1910
A brown leather writing slope of typical form with a hinged sloping front, fastened at the top with a ball clasp, which opens to reveal inside letter racks, a pen in a holder, an ink pot and a small box for desk items, the slope itself with two fasteners to keep the paper in place and covered in black shagreen effect leather (also seen on the base). The front, sides and interior are boldly decorated using the technique of leather tooling, in which designs are carved into a specially prepared hide, and show stylised rustic scenes, a lakeside garden to the front with flowering lotus, and bamboo and wicker fencing which continues to the sides, the interior similarly decorated with, in addition, a roundel depicting a fisherman.The ink pot has a lid that opens to reveal the lettering ‘KKA’ ‘PRIV’ with a double eagle head. This was made for the Austrian navy and similar pieces are dated to around 1900. It is just possible that this implies Austrian manufacture of the slope itself. Also to be seen are sheets of headed notepaper (16, Malvern Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey), an envelope addressed to Mrs E.L.Fisher of the same address postmarked 1918 and a funeral card in memory of Henry Stoke and dated 1912 . This must have been a luxury product in its day and is a relic of a time when communication was by writing rather than text message or email. An ornament then, rather than a practical addition, to the office of today.
Size: | Ht 19cm, Depth 11cm (max), Width 23cm |
Weight: | 760gm |
Date: | 1910 |
Condition: | Good vintage condition, some wear overall and losses to the reverse (see images) |
Estimate: | £60 – 80 |