Need some help identifying this desk.
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Victorian Furniture thread on victorianforum.com · started April 27, 2008 by Swigga · 4 posts, 4 image attachments · discussion in 2008.
any info anyone could give me on this piece would be much appreciated.
any info anyone could give me on this piece would be much appreciated.
This desk is definitely English. This style desk is called a "Carlton House Desk" - where the writing surface is surrounded by a decorative bank of shaped drawers. The first known type is supposed to have been originally in the Prince Regent's bedroom at Carlton House. Originally made in 1790 for the Prince of Wales (Carlton House was the London Residence of the Prince of Wales).
It is a nice one, with very nice, delicate painted decoration. Typical classic English motifs (tapered bellflowers on the legs, floral swags, shell and scrolls, portraits and beading), even the stringing looks to be painted on rather than inlaid (can see signs of paint loss). The small knobs may well be/ are probably Ivory, the wood looks like Mahogany (or possibly Lacewood, or Satinwood) Tough to tell from pictures - especially once the wood has been colored when finished. It looks to be in very nice condition - with what is probably the original shellac finish.
Member 1836 suggested that the cabinet you posted pics of may well be English - I believe he may be right with his opinion and observations regarding the style, and marquetry work. Did the 2 pieces come from the same seller? If so - all the more reason to suspect the cabinet as English made. woodwright
It is a nice one, with very nice, delicate painted decoration. Typical classic English motifs (tapered bellflowers on the legs, floral swags, shell and scrolls, portraits and beading), even the stringing looks to be painted on rather than inlaid (can see signs of paint loss). The small knobs may well be/ are probably Ivory, the wood looks like Mahogany (or possibly Lacewood, or Satinwood) Tough to tell from pictures - especially once the wood has been colored when finished. It looks to be in very nice condition - with what is probably the original shellac finish.
Member 1836 suggested that the cabinet you posted pics of may well be English - I believe he may be right with his opinion and observations regarding the style, and marquetry work. Did the 2 pieces come from the same seller? If so - all the more reason to suspect the cabinet as English made. woodwright
Very nice desk, great materials and richly finished: an expensive thing when new I should think.
Agree with Woodwright's call of the piece as English. Carlton House desks were "reproduced" a fair bit quite late in the 19thC and early 20thC (and then sporadically), often in satinwood or some other highly figured light finished wood, often with inlays or polychrome Sheraton Revival sorts of painted decoration, and sometimes with Wedgwood or similar porcelain plaques.
A quick look on Ebay turned up these two pieces (from the same London dealer) for comparison: The first, an Edwardian satinwood cabinet with Wedgwood plaques and polychromed swags and festoons and other motives that echo the interiors of the Adams brothers architects - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270231419571&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:US:1123 ; The second a satinwood Carlton House Desk, of no great age (the dealer states "post-1950") or refinement (the inlays are coarse and the quality of the wood looks inferior to the late Victorian and Edwardian pieces.)
A third piece, coming up at Lyon & Turnbull, Edinburgh, is authentically Edwardian, but a kidney-shaped desk, smaller and less desirable, and with inlays that don't (to my eye) live up to your painted decoration: http://cgi.liveauctions.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&sspagename=ADME%3AB%3AEF%3AUS%3A1123&viewitem=&item=280220070285
Agree with Woodwright's call of the piece as English. Carlton House desks were "reproduced" a fair bit quite late in the 19thC and early 20thC (and then sporadically), often in satinwood or some other highly figured light finished wood, often with inlays or polychrome Sheraton Revival sorts of painted decoration, and sometimes with Wedgwood or similar porcelain plaques.
A quick look on Ebay turned up these two pieces (from the same London dealer) for comparison: The first, an Edwardian satinwood cabinet with Wedgwood plaques and polychromed swags and festoons and other motives that echo the interiors of the Adams brothers architects - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270231419571&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:US:1123 ; The second a satinwood Carlton House Desk, of no great age (the dealer states "post-1950") or refinement (the inlays are coarse and the quality of the wood looks inferior to the late Victorian and Edwardian pieces.)
A third piece, coming up at Lyon & Turnbull, Edinburgh, is authentically Edwardian, but a kidney-shaped desk, smaller and less desirable, and with inlays that don't (to my eye) live up to your painted decoration: http://cgi.liveauctions.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&sspagename=ADME%3AB%3AEF%3AUS%3A1123&viewitem=&item=280220070285
Yea, both of these pieces came from the same estate. I guess they had a thing for english furniture. Thank you both for sharing your knowledge.