Presumed 18th Century Heavy Book Shaped Writing Box with Original Red Paint Remnants, Likely British phenomenon 30 minutes with a little

30 minutes with a little weight on it and it will lie completely flat

All apprx 5 1/8" x 4"

Some wear to the box and darkening to the face of the cards

Perhaps nice to have the two together to use somehow (a pretty little pillow they would make) so I'm selling as a pair

where they would feel like insertions into lively conversation

Presumed 18th Century Heavy Book Shaped Writing Box with Original Red Paint Remnants, Likely British phenomenon 30 minutes with a littleI've had a couple of 19th century book shaped tole painted boxes holding ink wells with room for pens and letters inside; this I believe is an earlier and finer precursor to those, 18th century British I think. I purchased it at one of the shows in Nashville from a dealer who had purchased it at auction, described that way, and it is most definitely old, crafted, it appears to me, of thick, heavy brass (it is quite heavy and substantial for its size.)