EARLY 19TH CENTURY

Details

A REGENCY MAHOGANY CARLTON HOUSE DESK
EARLY 19TH CENTURY
The rounded rectangular top with a D-shaped superstructure with a pierced brass gallery above six mahogany-lined drawers flanked by two concave doors, with sloping sides with two further mahogany-lined drawers, the gilt-tooled leather-lined writing-surface inset with a hinged writing-slope, above one long and two short mahogany-lined frieze drawers, on square tapering legs with brass caps and castors, the handles replaced
40¼ in. (102.5 cm.) high; 60 in. (152.5 cm.) wide; 31½ in. (80 cm.) deep

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

The 'Carlton House' desk is named after an example of this form reputedly commissioned by the Prince of Wales for his use at his London residence, Carlton House (sold anonymously, Sotheby's London, 25 April 1986, lot 73). The first published design of 'a Gentleman's writing-table' of this form is dated 1792 and appears in George Hepplewhite's The Cabinet-Maker's London Book of Prices, 2nd edn., 1793, pl.21. Thomas Sheraton published a similar design that same year in his The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Drawing Book, pl.60.
This elegant example with sloped sides is similar to one sold anonymously, Christie's, New York, 22 April 1999, lot 79 for $63,000. Another similar example was sold anonymously, Christie's, London, 26 April 2007, lot 275 for £21,000.

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