Peter J. Martin and Son Antiques

Description

A quite stunning late Victorian Sheraton Revival mahogany Carlton House desk, having profuse hand-cut marquetry inlay of the finest quality to all surfaces, the motifs including garlands, harebells, ribbons, flowers, putti, and mythical creatures. The superstructure features drawers, sliding letter boxes, and two compartments with lift-up lids, surrounding a sliding writing surface with hand-stained cow hide leather scriber, above two frieze drawers with secret compartments behind, and raised on elegant square section tapering legs.

This model of writing table is known as a ‘Carlton House Desk’ because the first recorded example was made by George Hepplewhite in the late 18th Century for the then Prince of Wales (later George IV), whose London residence was at Carlton House. This example more closely resembles the designs of Carlton House desks found in Thomas Sheraton’s ‘The Cabinet Maker’s and Upholsterer’s Drawing Book’.

Width 48″ (122cm) Depth 24″ (61cm) Height 42″ (107cm)

Condition and Details of Restoration
This desk is in original condition, and is structurally sound. The polish has been re-finished, by our own craftsmen, by hand in the traditional manner. There are some old marks under the polish as might be expected on an example of this age, but all extremely minor.