A George II style parcel-gilt mahogany free-standing pedestal desk circa 1912, supplied by Lenygon and Morant

with a tooled leather inset top,  the serpentine front with nine drawers,  with shaped panels to the reverse, the locks stamped and numbered consecutively CHUBB/DETECTOR/LONDON/1675675 - 83

Supplied to Charles Wyndham, 3rd Baron Leconfield and his wife, for Lady Leconfield's sitting room at Petworth House, West Sussex.

Thence by descent to the current owner.

Christopher Hussey, 'Petworth House, Sussex, The Seat of Lord Leconfield', Country Life, 1926.

Good overall condition. Leather top a little stained scuffed and worn consistent with age and use but nonetheless atrractive. Old marks and scratches. Exceptional quality
"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."

This wonderful desk was supplied shortly after the marriage of Charles Wyndham and Violet Rawson in March 1911, for the new Lady Leconfield's sitting room at Petworth House, subsequently photographed and reproduced here. Following their marriage, the couple employed the Royal Warranted interior decorator, Francis Lenygon to assist with the redecoration of Petworth. Indeed Lenygon had first received Royal approval in 1905 after supplying a writing desk to Edward VII. The image shows the room, elegantly remodelled by Lenygon, the ceiling having been lowered by two feet to improve proportions. On the walls hang celebrated paintings including Rembrandt's 'Lady with a Fan' now in the Metropolitan Museum, New York, whilst on the left wall hangs Lawrence's 'Portrait of a Boy' framed by Jonathan Ritson's carvings possibly removed from the carved room. The whole had been designed to reflect the Franco-Dutch architecture of the exterior of Petworth House itself.

The desk is based upon a model published by the renowned furniture historian, Percy Macquoid, The Age of Mahogany, 1906, fig. 155. Macquoid was consulted by Lenygon and Morant on the historical interiors of their clients in the early 20th century having already documented the furniture in numerous country houses and given his recent publication would have been well positioned to advise on such a piece (see John Cornforth, The Search for a Style, 1988, p. 138).

The ability to date this desk so precisely is not solely based upon the date of Lord and Lady Leconfield's marriage but by the remarkable numbered Chubb locks. The Chubb archives reveal the order book in which the locks are listed under order no. B6377 as '9 21/2 Mortise Till,  1" to Pin/ to key sent, no new keys'. The curious entry mentioning that these locks were made to an already owned key is because Lady Leconfield had them specifically commissioned to an existing key in her possession. The entry is dated 23rd July 1912 and as such the desk was presumably supplied shortly thereafter.