A GEORGE III MAHOGANY MECHANICAL DESK ATTRIBUTED TO THOMAS A...

Estimate

£2,000 - £3,000

A GEORGE III MAHOGANY MECHANICAL DESK ATTRIBUTED TO THOMAS AND GEORGE SEDDON THE MECHANISM DESIGNED AND PATENTED BY DAY GUNBY IN 1798 the rectangular top with central hinged slope, the rising compartment operated by counterweights and fitted with drawers, a door and pigeon holes, the knee hole with curved recess flanked by drawers, the panelled sides with pair of substantial brass handles, on castors, numbered in ink inside 3612 and inscribed RB(?) 38 under one of the pedestals, 122cm h (compartment up); 96 x 148cm, early 19th c

Provenance: A Shropshire country house since the early 19th century.

For a similar desk see Gilbert (C), The Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700-1840, Leeds 1996, p407, fig 807.

Day Gunby (d 1805), the designer of the mechanism was a carpenter by trade of Cross Street, Hatton Garden, later residing at Lower Clapton, Middlesex. His patent specification was "for weights, bolts and springs for improving all kinds of writing and reading desks, tables, chairs, stools, tambour-frames, library-steps, bedsteads and various other articles." See Hughes (G Bernard), Day Gunby's Patent Furniture article in Country Life, 21 February 19576.

The firm of Seddon was established in London by George Seddon in 1753 and grew to be one of the largest makers of furniture in Regency London. The present desk although not marked may confidently be attributed to T & G Seddon and may be directly compared with several other examples, in particular those sold Bonhams 19 March 2008, lot 108; Christie's 9 June 2011, lot 291 and Sotheby's New York (from the estate of Ambassador Pamela Harriman) 19-21 May 1997, lot 69.

More Information

Handling marks and minor peripheral surface faults. The action not operative being propped upright many years but believed to be complete. Some damage to skirted plinth, fine quality timber (with old ink stains on the top) and good original colour, not repolished or restored.