A Writing Box

I recently picked up a small ladies writing box, which I plan to restore a little so that it displays nicely. It’s not the type of writing box which opens back to create a sloped surface, but rather one which opens to a small tablet for writing which then folds back into the lid to reveal the compartments beneath.

The box is from around 1840, appears to be made from mahogany and the top of the box is inset with a floral tooled leather design. It’s not a valuable item, and has certainly seen better days. All the compartments are present, though a couple of dividers have come loose. The compartments are lined with an unattractive paper, which I hope to remove or replace. The glass inkwell with a brass cap is present. The bottom compartment is a correspondence drawer divided in two, with one side marked Answered and the other side marked Unanswered.


Now, to read up on how to safely clean leather, and find out what type of paper is best to line the compartments with...