A George III mahogany Carlton House desk circa 1795

partially inlaid with ebony and boxwood stringing, the front legs headed by inlaid Fleur de Lys

G. Bernard Hughes `The Regent's Own Writing Table, Country Life Annual, 1969 pp. 22-24
Hugh Roberts `The First Carlton House Table?', Furniture History Journal, 1995, pp. 124-128

Good overall condition. Some charactersitic age cracks. Replaced leather to writing surface. Possible old repair towards rear edge of raised superstructure towards back. General old marks and scratches. Excellent rich colour and patina to mahogany.
"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."

Early references to desks of this type are discussed in Hugh Roberts, op. cit. pp. 124-128. This includes an entry from the Prince of Wales' accounts in the Royal Archives which reveals an insight into a table of this form supplied by John Kerr, one of the Prince's favoured cabinet-makers.

Feb 5 1790
To a Large Elegant Sattinwood Writing table containing 15 Drawers and two Cupboards Top covered with superfine Green Cloth to rise Occasionally the whole Varnish'd and Polish'd Compleat
£20

The account verifies the existence of such a table in the late 18th century, supplied directly to the Prince for Carlton House prior to the general release of comparative designs such as those in George Hepplewhite's The Cabinet-Maker's London Book of Prices, 2nd ed., 1793, pl.21, and Thomas Sheraton's The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Drawing Book, 1793, pl.60 (see illustration). In 1814 Rudolph Ackermann included a French fashioned writing table with rounded cartonnier section in his Repository of Arts naming it a `Carlton House table' and thereby implying its origins. A table of this model also with draped swag handles and which was reputedly commissioned by the Prince of Wales, later George IV, for Carlton House, sold in these rooms, 25 April 1986, lot 73.

The desk remains one of the more original and popular inventions of the late eighteenth century. As Hayward notes, like the bureau à cylindre, after which the Carlton House desk was modelled, their innovation lay in being finished on all four sides such that they could stand in the middle of the room. ( J.F.Hayward, English Desks and Bureaux, London, 1968, p.7).

A comparable example is illustrated in Ralph Edwards and Percy Macquoid, The Dictionary of English Furniture, London, 3 vols., rev. ed. 1954, vol. III, p.257, fig. 41. Another example by Gillows which  has similar handles and drawer configuration to the superstructure is illustrated in Lindsay Boynton, Gillow Furniture Designs1760-1800, Herts., 1995 pl.50. The superb quality of the present desk would indicate that it could well have been made by this firm.

Other related examples were sold from the collection of the Earl of Poulett, Hinton House, Somerset, Sotheby's, 1 November 1968, lot 108, and again from the Hochschild Collection, Sotheby's, 1 December 1978, lot 161. A further example, sold in these rooms, 13 November 1998, lot 157.