The recessed top of well figured mahogany with a border carved with leaf moulding over a frieze applied with well carved lion heads bordered with swags of foliage and bell flowers; the ends with brass carrying handled mounted on a carved paterae; the four cabriole legs, headed by further paterae to the knees and carved with hairy paw feet of outstanding colour and patination 
Sir Julius Wernher, who had made a fortune trading with South African diamonds, bought Luton Hoo in 1903 to complement his London dwelling, Bath House on Piccadilly. He had the interior of the Robert Adams designed house completely remodelled by the architects responsible for the Ritz Hotel in London as wanted the lavish new interior to form a magnificent backdrop for his growing art collection, which was rivalled only by that of the Rothschild’s in nearby Buckinghamshire. 
At the time of his death Sir Julius Werner was one of the richest men in England with a fortune of £12 million. There is a large memorial of him at the entrance to the Royal School of Mines in London. 
Much of his collection is now on view at Ranger’s House in Greenwich, London.