An early Victorian writing slope box, crafted from coromandel, a rare and highly prized exotic hardwood, and decorated with brass inlay and inset carrying handles.
 
The box includes a concealed side drawer, which can only be opened once the lid is raised and an internal retaining pin is released. This discreet locking arrangement adds an additional level of security to the fitted interior.
 
Inside, the writing surface is lined in black leather with gilt-tooled decoration. The interior is fitted with inkwells, a pen tray and small lidded compartments, together with a shield-shaped escutcheon.
 
The upper section of the leather writing slope lifts to reveal a storage compartment beneath. Within the fitted writing section is a further concealed mechanism: when one of the internal dividers is withdrawn, a sprung compartment is released, revealing three hidden drawers.
 
The lower section of the writing slope also opens to provide an additional storage compartment.
 
A particularly well-fitted example, combining practical writing facilities with multiple concealed compartments and hidden drawers.