Description
Stunning and Rare Example of an English well grained Ladys Coromandel Travelling Writing Slope of generous proportions. Third quarter of the Nineteenth Century, possibly earlier.
The entire outer main area with lavish Mother of Pearl inlays depicting scrolls and flowers, opening to reveal a wonderful fitted interior and a dark green leather which is its original, writing surface which is split where it folds.
Condition: Good condition, original good surface patination. Lock is present, key does not turn, a few tiny bumps here and there difficult to see. Brass screw capped glass inkwells are of a later date.
Height: (at back) 3.5″ (9cm). Width: 16″ (40.5cm). Depth: (closed) 10″ (25.25cm).
Location: Dublin City, Ireland.
Affordable Fixed charge Worldwide Store to door shipping.
Coromandel: also known as Makassar Ebony, is a member of the genus Diospyros and one of the plants commonly known as ebony. Coromandel ebony wood is variegated, streaky brown and black, nearly always wide striped. It is considered a highly valuable wood for turnery, fine cabinet work and joinery.
The tree grows up to 20 meters under favourable circumstances, although such trees are rarely seen nowadays. Since Coromandel ebony has been a woodworker’s favourite for centuries, most of it has been felled and used in high quality furniture. The natural area of distribution are some Indonesian islands. As this exceptionally beautiful species of the Ebonies has been much appreciated by woodworkers all over the world through the past 2 centuries it has now become a very scarce and expensive timber. The small available amounts on the market have led to very high prices, Makassar ebony nowadays belongs to the highest priced timbers on the world, the region of growth is quite restricted.