A Regency Mahogany and Ebonised Carlton House Desk, Circa 1805

Writing tables with a horseshoe-shaped superstructure of drawers and cupboards are traditionally referred to as Carlton House desks, named after the London residence of the Prince of Wales, as explained by Rudolph Ackermann in Repository of Arts 'from having been first made for the august personage whose correct taste has so classically embellished that beautiful palace'. It appears a table of the form, in satinwood with silver handles, was indeed supplied to the Prince of Wales by the cabinetmaker John Kerr in 1790. This is now in a private collection, but a rosewood desk of similar design to the Hyde Park example but with a single tier superstructure does remain in the Royal Collection, likely a desk first recorded in the King's Bedroom at Carlton House in 1826 (RCIN 249; see Hugh Roberts, 'The First Carlton House Table?', Furniture History 1995, pp. 124-128). The first written reference to a 'Carlton House Table' appears in the firm Gillow's Cost Books in 1796.

William Priest appears to have been a retailer of antique and second-hand furniture in London during the early and mid-Victorian period. In 1837 he opened a warehouse at nos.17 and 24 Water Street, Blackfriars, and also kept premises at 23 Great Charlotte Street. The firm later moved to nos. 1 and 2 Tudor Street in Blackfriars. In addition to stamping pieces with the both the Water and Tudor Street addresses, Priest also utilised the label W. PRIESTS. / Office & Library Furniture Warehouse, / 17 & 24 Water Street Blackfriars, / Leading to the Temple / OFFICE, LIBRARY & COUNTING HOUSE / furniture & fittings of all descriptions. / HOUSES FURNISHED ON LOW TERMS. / Sales by Auction. Funerals & Appraisements.