A late George III mahogany Carlton House desk attributed to Gillows, circa 1800

the curved superstructure with pierced brass gallery, fitted with two banks of three drawers to the centre, flanked by cupboard doors, the left with a document slot above, the stepped sides fitted with two small and two larger drawers, one fitted for ink above three frieze drawers on turned gadrooned and fluted tapering legs with brass caps and castors

Mallett Antiques, London, July 1979, (£60,000).

‘H. Roberts, 'The First Carlton House Table?', Furniture History,1995, pp. 124-128).
S. Stuart, Gillows of Lancaster and London 1730-1840, Antique Collectors Club, 2008, vol. 1, pp.286-287.

Overall in reasonable condition with a slightly faded and clean surface. Small shrinkage crack to top left of superstructure, the right side of superstructure with restored crack and minor losses to veneer. Rear right corner is most sun faded area. Overall a very elegant and grand desk bearing original handles. The writing slope lacking leather pull. In need of some slight cosmetic restoration.
"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 particular design of desk owes its name to the one supplied to the Prince of Wales for Carlton House by the court cabinet maker John Kerr in 1790. Its design was later published by George Hepplewhite in 1792 and in 1793 by Thomas Shearer. The publication in Sheraton’s The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Drawing-Book of several plates illustrating the interiors of Prince George’s recently built palace raised the interest for its interior decoration.

Three years later, the name Carlton House desk appears for the first time in the Estimate Sketch Book of Gillow of London and Lancaster. A Gillow’s sketch from 1798 differs slightly from Hepplewhite’s and it is closer in design to the present lot, most noticeably displaying the turned and fluted legs and the pierced brass gallery. The design of this desk similar to known Gillow’s stamped models, the type of construction and the typical square brass handles strengthen an attribution to this firm.