Lap Writing Box
Object NameLap Writing Box
MediumWood
Dimensions5 1/2 × 15 × 10 1/2 in. (14 × 38.1 × 26.7 cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineGift of Mrs. Pierre Robinson. In the Farm House Museum Collection, Farm House Museum, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.
Object number73.13.1
Status
On viewCollections
Label TextLong before laptops and email, portable writing boxes offered a convenient way to write letters wherever one might be. In an era when letter writing was the primary means of long-distance communication, it’s no surprise that these portable desks became so popular. Beyond their usefulness for travel, they also made writing at home easier in an age before the widespread adoption of electricity, allowing the user to move to the bestlit spot in the house. Used by both men and women, this particular box was likely owned by a woman, as suggested by its smaller size and the presence of elegant decorative inlayed details.
https://www.victorianweb.org/art/design/furniture/golden1.html
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Letters were the main source of communication between friends and family, therefore the writing desk was very important. Through the letters and journals of people of the Victorian era, we have discovered information regarding daily rituals and routines.
Locations
- (not entered) Iowa State University, Farm House Museum
