English, 18th Century

George III, circa 1790

mahogany, boxwood and brass



with an adjustable inset leather writing surface, the frieze drawer fitted with a 'Bramah Lock', lacking castors

Acquired from John Partridge, London

G. Bernard Hughes, 'The Regent's Oak Writing Table', Country Life Annual, 1969, illustrated, fig. I;

Rhoda Koenig, ‘Top Dog’, The World of Interiors, December 1996, illustrated p.76

Related Literature
Hugh Roberts `The First Carlton House Table?', Furniture History Journal, 1995, pp. 124-128

Of high quality. The galleried top of re-polished appearance. The sloped right and left side with very old age cracks. Leather later replaced. Veneer missing around the edge of this surface. With later brass caps to each foot and lacking castors.
"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. 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 with draped swag handles which was reputedly commissioned by the Prince of Wales, later George IV, for Carlton House, sold in these rooms, 25 April 1986, lot 73. 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 Hothschild Collection, Sotheby's, 1 December 1978, lot 161.