Box & Magazine Cases

Large, multi-layered cases have been made throughout the history of sets of drawing instruments. Besides drawers, some of these wooden boxes have compartments that fold out from the lid or from the base. Unlike the half-dozen or so instruments in pocket cases, these cases could hold twenty or thirty drawing implements. The materials used to line the cases have changed over time, from the pink felt applied by J. D. Weickert's workshop in the 18th century to the satin and velvet that were commonplace in the 19th and 20th centuries. As can be seen on the next page, foam was introduced in the late 20th century. Brass hooks and eyes were often attached to fasten the lids; other cases could be locked with a key. American firms that sold these sets of instruments included Widdifield & Co. and Frost & Adams, both of Boston, and William Minifie of Baltimore.