Writing or lap desk with Chinese motif

writing desk

Writing desk; Writing or lap desk with Chinese motif; from the collection of Captain Richard C. Mears (1829-1899); writing desk decorated with Asian motifs, made of wood and finished with a mottled, faux-tortoise shell color, an image of a very stylized peacock with flowers is on the top of the box, thin handles are on either side of the box and are etched with a vine-like detail, while the keyhole plate on the front is etched with the same vine-like images as the handles; the interior of the box is stained a dark color, with the entire writing surface covered in a velvet cloth; if the the box is opened away from the user, the bottom portion of the writing surface opens upward and displays an image of a mountain and a house on the rocks overlooking the water (painted in a stylized Asian motif); if the box is opened away from the user, the top portion of the writing surface opens downward and displays an image of flowers and leaves on a branch (painted in a stylized Asian motif); if the box is opened away from the user, there is a compartment for keeping inks and writing supplies at the top, including a cover for one of the compartments which has a painted image, as well as a red ribbon tied around it; if opened towards the user, the outer right side of the box is removable (held in place by a pin on the interior lip of the box), exposing a removable container hidden below the main box.