A Regency rosewood and brass inlaid desk circa 1815

in the manner of Louis le Gaigneur, the later  tooled leather inset rectangular top with a moulded brass edge, above five drawers to one side, opposed by dummies, on square tapering legs with gilt-metal cappings and castors

Good restored condition. New leather top with some old marks. Some sections of brass mount detached and brass inlay lifting in places. Some feint fracture cracks to one leg. Some dents to brass moulded edge around top. For further information on this Lot, please contact the English Furniture Department on 00 44 (0) 207 293-5470.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The style of the present desk exemplifies the taste of the English aristocracy  in the first quarter of 19th century for French designs of the Ancien regime based on examples made by the French royal ébéniste Andre-Charles Boulle and the designs of Jean Bérain.  A leading exponent of this style was the Prince Regent.

There were several cabinet makers working at this period who specialised in this type of work. One of the most prominent was Louis le Gaigneur .

 The cabinet-maker and upholder Le Gaigneur established his Buhl Manufactory at 19 Queen Street, Edgware Road circa 1815 and specialised in brass inlaid furniture in the newly revived Louis Quatorze style. His clients included such distinguished patrons as the Prince Regent and the 3rd Marquess of Hertford, and library tables bearing Le Gaigneur`s signature are preserved in the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle and the Wallace Collection. 

Another possible maker who specialised in this type of work was the firm Town and Emanuel.  Their premises were in New Bond Street and they also attracted commissions distinguished patrons who included Queen Adelaide, wife of William IV, and the Duke of Sutherland, specialising as their trade card indicates in ` Buhl Marqueterie...of the Finest & most Superb Designs of the Times of Louis 14th, Splendid Cabinets & Tables inlaid etc...' 

A writing table with strong similarities to the present lot and with this attribution was sold Christie`s New York, 16th October 1998, lot 37. A further related example is illustrated in Christopher Gilbert, The Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700-1840, 1996, p.451.