I love old wooden boxes! So, the other day when I saw a couple old writing desks for sale we were up and out early.

I’ve sold a couple of these lovely boxes in the store and it’s always hard to part with them.

If you aren’t familiar with them, here’s a quick explanation.

From Wikipedia:
“Bible boxes were popular in the 17th century.
17th century saw the appearance of several other kinds of “chest” desks, such as those destined for use in ships or for getting paperwork done during a military campaign. These were usually known as the Campaign desk and the Field desk.”

There were also similar boxes called Bible Boxes.

“In Colonial America, this container was produced locally in a great variety of styles and finishes, by amateurs and professionals. Just about anybody who could afford nails, a few planks of wood, and a hammer could improvise a Bible box.

About the size of a Bible, this box could be used to transport in safety what was a very costly book in the 13 colonies. Many varieties had a slanted or angled top with a lower lip, meant to hold the Bible for reading, when the box was placed on a table. In a sense it then served as a portable lectern. Over the years the typical Bible box was also used or specifically built to contain writing implements such as a quill, ink pot, blotting paper and writing paper. The level or slanted surface of the box then served as a desktop, for writing as well as reading.

Most portable desks gradually disappeared during the 19th century, as useful day-to-day writing tools. The introduction of mass literacy during that period, the invention of cheaper and more efficient writing implements, and the mass production of furniture made most portable desks redundant.

With the advent of clean writing surfaces in every home or place of business and of the small and clean pocket fountain pen and the pencil, a gentleman did not need to include a lap desk in his luggage. There was no need for a container for the quill, the blotter, and the sand tray or for the writing surface this container could offer. Ships eventually were constructed with built-in desks, making the portable desk obsolete in maritime environments.”

The antiques are not thought of as useful for our electronic lifestyle these wood boxes are mainly considered decorative. And that they are – even the most primitive wooden Bible box beats the cheap quality of plastic or vinyl stuff glued together in some factory far away.

But – they can still be useful in modern life. The size make them perfect for storing your ipad or ipod and it’s accessories. Some even have ‘secret drawers’ or compartments that make them the perfect place to hide valuables in plain sight.
If your are interested in either of these boxes, you’ll find them for sale now in our eBay Store.