Object Description
This is a beautiful antique George III mahogany partners pedestal desk, dating from the Circa 1810.
The rectangular top features an inset green and gilt tooled leather writing surface, above three frieze drawers on each side. There are a further three graduated drawers in each pedestal on each side. The drawers are oak lined and are all fitted with brass drop handles.
The desk is raised on plinth bases with semi concealed castors.
Complete with working locks and keys.
Instil the elegance of a bygone era to a special place in your home with this fabulous antique pedestal desk.
Provenance:
The desk belonged to Peter Mitchell-Thompson, 2nd Baron Selsdon (1913-1963), winner of the 1949 24 Hour Le Mans.
Condition:
In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned polished waxed and releathered in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.
Dimensions in cm:
Height 76 x Width 153 x Depth 101
Dimensions in inches:
Height 2 foot, 6 inches x Width 5 foot x Depth 3 foot, 4 inches
A partners desk
is an antique desk form, which is basically two pedestal desks constructed from the start as one large desk joined at the front, for two users working while facing each other.
This piece of furniture was first conceived in the United Kingdom to accommodate the work of banking partners. These gentlemen were usually senior bank officials who wished to work together while keeping the convenience and the prestige of a pedestal desk.
Mahogany
is probably one of the largest ‘families’ of hardwood, having many different varieties within its own species.
Mahogany has been used for centuries in ship building, house building, furniture making etc and is the core structure of just about every 19th century vanity box, dressing case or jewellery box. It became more of a Victorian trend to dress Mahogany with these decorative veneers, such as Rosewood, Kingwood, Burr Walnut and Coromandel, so that the actual Mahogany was almost hidden from view.
Mahogany itself is a rich reddish brown wood that can range from being plain in appearance to something that is so vibrant, figured and almost three dimensional in effect.
Although Mahogany was most often used in its solid form, it also provided some beautifully figured varieties of veneer like ‘Flame’ Mahogany and ‘Fiddleback’ Mahogany (named after its preferred use in the manufacture of fine musical instruments).
Cuban Mahogany was so sought after, that by the late 1850′s, this particular variety became all but extinct.
Our reference: A2068