An extremely important mid 18th century Chippendale period carved mahogany partners' pedestal desk. The moulded and banded top with gold tooled, faded red leather insert above two small drawers and one large central drawer to the front and two small drawers and one large dummy drawer to the reverse side. A finely carved guilloche moulding linking the top section and the two pedestals, each having a further three graduated drawers to both sides, terminating in a moulded plinth with concealed castors. Each drawer retaining original gold lacquered brass swan-neck handles and shaped escutcheons and locks typical of Chippendale.

Note: This desk is of exceptional quality, colour and patination, and one drawer is inscribed in ink ‘Burton Constable’.

This beautiful pedestal desk is a very rare example of the extremely high quality of craftsmanship that can be expected from the workshop of Thomas Chippendale. The relatively bold use of figured mahogany on the drawer fronts as well as the very distinct elegant and shape of the mouldings and the use of guilloche carving all point to the Chippendale workshop. The otherwise rarely used shaped escutcheon is again often associated with Chippendale.  The attention to detail is second to none on this piece with the dust boards being chamfered to avoid paper getting caught when opening the drawers. Finally the underside is finished in a red clay wash, which again is often associated with Thomas Chippendale.