Writing desk from the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in Lunacy, England, 1828-1914

Made:
1828-1914 in Europe
The Commissioners in Lunacy Stamp, made of ivory and metal Writing desk of the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in Metal key for writing desk from the Office of the Metropolitan Writing desk of the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in The Commissioners in Lunacy Stamp, made of ivory and metal Empty red inkwell, made of glass with a metal lid Empty red inkwell, made of glass with a metal lid Writing desk of the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in Writing desk of the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in Writing desk of the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in Writing desk of the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in

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The Commissioners in Lunacy Stamp, made of ivory and metal
Science Museum Group Collections
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Writing desk of the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in
Science Museum Group Collections
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Metal key for writing desk from the Office of the Metropolitan
Science Museum Group Collections
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Writing desk of the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in
Science Museum Group Collections
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

The Commissioners in Lunacy Stamp, made of ivory and metal
Science Museum Group Collections
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Empty red inkwell, made of glass with a metal lid
Science Museum Group Collections
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Empty red inkwell, made of glass with a metal lid
Science Museum Group Collections
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Writing desk of the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London.

Writing desk of the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London.

Writing desk of the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Writing desk of the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Writing desk of the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in Lunacy, 1828-1914, containing copies of relevant Acts of Parliament, Oaths, 3 bibles with handwritten oaths, and a seal. Also contains 2 removable glass inkwells, 2 small boxes, curved surface for resting pens (?), 1 ivory stamp, small key. Box lid has two leather inners, one attached and one removable, embossed with crown and floral design.

Writing desks were designed to be portable and to store writing equipment. This example came from the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in Lunacy. The Commission was set up in 1828 to inspect private asylums in Middlesex and the London metropolitan area. It granted or revoked licences, and could make unannounced inspections, interview patients and release those it felt had been unjustly placed in asylums. The Commission sought to improve medical treatment of patients and set minimum acceptable standards of accommodation. Every year, the Commission had to submit a report to the Home Secretary of its findings. In 1845, its duties extended to all boroughs and counties of England and Wales.

The desk contains documents such as relevant Acts of Parliament and oaths used for giving evidence. These documents are testament to the treatment and status of mental illness in the 1800s and use terms considered unacceptable today. For example, the category ‘lunacy’ included “Rogues, Vagabonds, and other idle and disorderly persons”. If these individuals were considered to have mental illnesses, they could be ‘kept safely locked up in some secure place’ and if necessary ‘be there chained.’

Details

Category:
Psychology, Psychiatry & Anthropometry
Object Number:
1998-886
Materials:
wood, leather, paper and ivory, glass
Measurements:
overall: 155 mm x 500 mm x 360 mm,
type:
writing desk
credit:
Matsuda, Andrew, Dr.

Parts

Black leather purse with the crest of the Commissioners in Lunacy

Black leather purse with the crest of the Commissioners in Lunacy

Black leather purse with a metal clasp and the crest of the Commisioners in Lunacy, 1828 - 1914, leather, metal, (stored in writing desk of the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in Lunacy)

Measurements:
overall: 50 mm x 230 mm x 125 mm,
Materials:
leather and metal (unknown)
Object Number:
1998-886/2
type:
case - container
A copy of the New Testament with handwritten oaths inside

A copy of the New Testament with handwritten oaths inside

A copy of the New Testament with handwritten oaths inside, leather, paper, (stored in writing desk of the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in Lunacy)

Measurements:
overall: 10 mm x 90 mm x 143 mm, .1 kg
Materials:
leather and paper (fibre product)
Object Number:
1998-886/3
type:
bible
New Testament with a typewritten copy of the 1909 Oaths Act

New Testament with a typewritten copy of the 1909 Oaths Act

A copy of the New Testament with a typewritten copy of the 1909 Oaths Act, with additional handwritten oaths, leather, paper, (stored in the writing desk of the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in Lunacy)

Measurements:
overall: 10 mm x 90 mm x 143 mm, .1 kg
Materials:
leather and paper (fibre product)
Object Number:
1998-886/4
type:
bible
Copy of the New Testament with handwritten oaths inside

Copy of the New Testament with handwritten oaths inside

A copy of the New Testament with handwritten oaths inside, printed by the Pitt Press, Cambridge, 1834, leather paper, (stored in the writing desk of the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in Lunacy)

.

Measurements:
overall: 10 mm x 90 mm x 143 mm, .1 kg
Materials:
leather and paper (fibre product)
Object Number:
1998-886/5
type:
bible
Card with Form of Oath and Form of Affirmation

Card with Form of Oath and Form of Affirmation

Printed card with Form of Oath on one side and Form of Affirmation on the other

cardboard, paper (stored in the writing desk of the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in Lunacy)

Measurements:
overall: 5 mm x 113 mm x 218 mm, .1 kg
Materials:
cardboard
Object Number:
1998-886/6
type:
card
Leatherbound card with Form of Oath

Leatherbound card with Form of Oath

Leatherbound card with Form of Oath, (stored in the writing desk of the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in Lunacy)

Measurements:
overall: 5 mm x 113 mm x 218 mm, .06 kg
Materials:
leather , paper (fibre product) and cardboard
Object Number:
1998-886/7
type:
oath
An Act to Amend the Laws for the Erection and Regulation of County Lunatic Asylums

An Act to Amend the Laws for the Erection and Regulation of County Lunatic Asylums

Red leatherbound copy of An Act to Amend the Laws for the Erection and Regulation of County Lunatic Asylums and more effectually to provide for the Care and Maintenance of Pauper and Criminal Lunatics in England, 15th July 1828

Leather, paper (stored in the writing desk of the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in Lunacy)

Materials:
leather and paper (fibre product)
Object Number:
1998-886/8
type:
legislative acts
Hard cover book of acts relating to Asylums, Lunatics, Paupers and Criminals

Hard cover book of acts relating to Asylums, Lunatics, Paupers and Criminals

Hard cover book including the text of various acts relating to Asylums, Lunatics, Paupers and Criminals between 1787 - 1845

1787 - 1914 (stored in the writing desk of the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in Lunacy)

Materials:
paper (fibre product) and cardboard
Object Number:
1998-886/9
type:
legislative acts
Empty black inkwell

Empty black inkwell

Empty black inkwell, made of glass with a metal lid, (stored in the writing desk of the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in Lunacy)

Materials:
glass and metal (unknown)
Object Number:
1998-886/10
type:
ink well
Inkwell from Office of Metropolitan Commissioners in Lunacy

Inkwell from Office of Metropolitan Commissioners in Lunacy

Empty red inkwell, made of glass with a metal lid, (stored in the writing desk of the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in Lunacy)

Materials:
glass and metal (unknown)
Object Number:
1998-886/11
type:
ink well
The Commissioners in Lunacy Stamp

The Commissioners in Lunacy Stamp

The Commissioners in Lunacy Stamp, made of ivory and metal, from writing desk of the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in Lunacy

Measurements:
overall: 95 mm x 45 mm x 45 mm, .08 kg
Materials:
ivory and metal (unknown)
Object Number:
1998-886/12
type:
stamp - mark
Metal key for  the writing desk of the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in Lunacy

Metal key for the writing desk of the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in Lunacy

Metal key for writing desk from the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in Lunacy, attached to two cotton tassels.

Measurements:
overall: 20 mm x 83 mm x 50 mm, .005 kg
Materials:
metal (unknown) and cotton (textile)
Object Number:
1998-886/13
type:
keys (hardware)
Small removable wooden lid to desk compartment

Small removable wooden lid to desk compartment

Small removable wooden lid to internal compartment, from writing desk of the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in Lunacy

Measurements:
overall: 20 mm x 120 mm x 55 mm, .02 kg
Materials:
wood (unidentified)
Object Number:
1998-886/14
type:
lids
Small wooden removeable lid to desk compartment

Small wooden removeable lid to desk compartment

Small wooden removeable lid to internal compartment

from writing desk of the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in Lunacy)

Measurements:
overall: 20 mm x 236 mm x 55 mm, .06 kg
Materials:
wood (unidentified)
Object Number:
1998-886/15
type:
lids
Lid to secret compartment, from writing desk

Lid to secret compartment, from writing desk

Removable wooden lid to secret compartment, also acts as a pen rest, from writing desk of the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in Lunacy.

Measurements:
overall: 20 mm x 275 mm x 35 mm, .04 kg
Materials:
wood (unidentified)
Object Number:
1998-886/16
type:
lids