Important Historical Desk of Admiral Markham

A highly Important, Early Regency period mahogany, ebonised and parcel-gilt partners writing table on monopodia legs of exceptional quality and design, in the manner of George Smith, stamped Chas Norman, whom was associated with the work of Gillows. Labelled ‘Morning Room’. English, Regency period, circa 1810. Rarely seen, the crescent shaped ended rectangular top, beautifully lined with the original gilt tooled leather writing surface, enclosed by a mahogany cross-banded border and reeded edge. The frieze, containing four finely chosen fiddle-back mahogany drawers, two pairs to opposing sides, each retaining the original gadrooned carved ebonised knob handles. The perimeters having a finely ebonised cockbead, whilst the drawer liners being executed in mahogany retain the original recessed brass locks, which look to have never been removed. Flanking the drawers are bead-moulded ebonised panels which conform to either end above a reeded mould. Raised on four boldly designed and imposing, crisply carved, ebonised and parcel-gilt leopard monopodia supports, of wonderful original waxed condition. The Egyptian leopards mask above a bold breast decorated with carved gilt anthemion and guilloche motifs, finishing on a finely detailed carved leg and paw foot. The condition is excellent, retaining the original hand-dyed and gilt tooled waxed leather writing surface along with original locks, handles and ebonising with gilt-work to the legs. Commissioned for what presumes to be a private collection and due to its condition, being obvious to see, this writing table has been home to an important household. Labelled ‘Morning Library’ to the underside, whilst in this exemplary condition strongly suggests this striking piece of Regency furniture has furnished the library of the said house for the majority of its life. As can be noted, this is an extremely rare, elegant, early Regency writing table of exceptional colour, which corresponds with designs of the celebrated furniture maker and designer George Smith, workmanship of Gillows, being stamped to the underside Chas Norman four times. George Smith (1756 - 1826) was one of the most influential furniture designers of the English Regency Period (1811-1830). Smith, who began his pattern-book in 1804, wrote of ‘the great taste and elegance’ of this design. In 1808 he published his influential and definitive text on Regency interior Design titled ‘ A Collection of Designs for Household Furniture and Interior Decoration’ and classed himself as ‘Upholder Extraordinary to His Royal Excellency the Prince of Wales’…The Prince Regent. Smith was inspired in his designs from his earlier career as an Egyptologist, producing drawings incorporating motifs of Leopards heads and paws, Lions, sphinx’s, anthemia, and griffons amongst others. Charles Heathcote Tatham (1772-1842) published ‘Etchings, Representing the Best Examples of Ancient Ornamental Architecture; Drawn from the Originals in Rome, and Other Parts of Italy During the Years 1794, 1795, and 1796’, in which he illustrated an antique tripod table...

This attractive mahogany Edwardian Davenport / writing desk, circa 1900s has been constructed from quality solid mahogany having a raised back above a fall front moulded edge writing slope with a raised and fielded panelled cupboard door standing on bracket feet. The Davenport's top section has a brass hinged mahogany lift up lid to reveal an original lead lined storage...

An exceptionally fine example of an early 17th Century Spanish renaissance walnut vargueno / bargueno escritorio writing desk on trestle stand. Sp...

An extremely fine 19th century French Louis XV Revival gilt ormolu mounted Kingwood bureau de dame / writing table. French, circa 1870. A very attractive and of the finest qua...

An extremely fine gilt bronze mounted parquetry kidney shaped writing table attributed to Gillows of Lancaster. English Circa 1865 The rosewood lozenge trellis inlaid kidney shape...

An extremely fine and unusual French Amboyan and gilt bronze bureau plat - writing table inspired by the Neoclassical designs. French circa 1880-1900. A superb amboyna writing ...

Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this stunning, exceptionally rare and very fine, fully restored Edward & Roberts stamped, Chinese Chippendale desk The firm Edwards and Roberts were among the best English antique furniture cabinet...

We are delighted to offer for sale this very rare and extremely important hand carved walnut fully stamped library table by Angiolo Barbetti of Firenze What a find… this table is by one of the finest Italian carvers of all time, dating to circa 1860, Barbetti’s works sell in the hundreds of thousands, they are highly collectable, impossible to find and when they do come up for sale they usually end up in museum collections, they are simply that good This is an Italian carved walnut library or centre table, the cartouche shaped top with gadrooned edge and leather inset, the carved and pierced frieze incorporating a central shell motif flanked by scroll motifs with swags of flowers, each conforming cabriole shaped leg incorporating similar motifs and joined by an X-stretcher centred by a seated cherub, on scroll carved feet, the underside with branded stamp 'BARBETTI, FIRENZE' What more can I say! The condition is period correct and very fine, we have cleaned waxed and polished it from top to bottom, it is in gallery ready order throughout Dimensions: Height 82.5cm Width 142cm Depth 76cm Please note all measurements are taken at the widest point Angiolo Barbetti (1805 - 1873) was a skilled carver, designer and decorator, with a flourishing atelier in Florence during the nineteenth century. After working in his father Massimiliano's atelier in Siena, he took up an apprenticeship with Giovacchino Guidi (d. 1842), considered one of Siena's finest ebenisti. By 1826-7, he had established a workshop on the Piazza San Giovanni, Siena and in 1830 exhibited his first works at the Istituto delle Belle Arti, Siena. In 1842, Barbetti moved his workshop to Florence, establishing himself near the ponte alle Grazie. Important commissions from this period included carvings for the interiors of Villa San Donato for Prince Anatoly Demidoff. Barbetti took part in many of the international exhibitions of the second half of the nineteenth century, including the 1851 Great Exhibition in London, where he was awarded a medal for a suite of carved walnut furniture. Following the exhibition, the suite of furniture was purchased by the South Kensington Museum, now the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it remains today. Joined in the business by his four sons Rafaello, Egisto, Ottavio and Rinaldo by the beginning of 1860, the firm of Barbetti continued to find international success exhibiting successfully at the 1861 Florence exhibition, the 1867 Paris Exposition Universelle and the Vienna Exhibition of 1873. Makers Bibliography: Meyer, Jonathan, Great Exhibitions: London, New York, Paris, Philadelphia, 1851 - 1900, Antique Collectors Club (Woodbridge, UK), 2006, p. 41. Simone Chiarugi, La bottega di Angiolo Barbetti a Siena e Firenze , in C. Paolini, A. Ponte and O. Selvafolta, Il bello ritrovato , Novara, De Agostini, 1990, pp. 220 223. Simone Chiarugi, La fortuna...

An Important Regency Burr Oak Writing Table The rectangular top with a thick band of burr oak and black leather writing surface with two draw leaf ends, above six opposing well shaped drawers, with ebonized mouldings, resting on superbly carved winged ebonized oak Gryphons, with interlocking tails. The design for this table closely...

We are delighted to offer for sale this Important, fully restored, bookcase back kidney desk attributed to Gillow’s of Lancaster. This is one of the finest desks I have ever owned, the design was originally made by Gillows of Lancaster, you can see the same desk selling for £100,000-£120,000 with other dealers. The piece has been on a journey restoration wise, the top was removed and sent to a desk leather specialist in Brighton, they fitted the finest quality, extra large single piece of cattle hide leather, it was then gold leaf embossed with an oversized geometric boarder and secondarily embossed with a rope twist boarder, the top and base were then taken to London where my third generation trained...

Mahogany on solid conifers. High knee pocket on the front with finely worked drawers, slightly protruding top plate, on high and fine-edged ball-shaped columns. Finally perforated ga...

Unusual rare Vladimir Kagan Art Deco style executive desk. Desk is equipped with space lights projecting light through elaborate pair of lucite shades that are also part of the desk ...