A GEORGE III MAHOGANY CARLTON HOUSE DESK

Details
A GEORGE III MAHOGANY CARLTON HOUSE DESK
LATE 18TH CENTURY

The superstructure with six central drawers flanked by cupboards, one with letter slot, above a leather-lined writing surface with central ratcheted adjustable slope, flanked by drawers, above three frieze drawers, on square tapering reeded legs headed by paterae, the back and sides with satinwood banded ovals, two drawers stamped 'W.PRIEST 17 AND 24 WATER STREET, BLACKFRIARS'--43in.(109cm.) high, 70in.(178cm.) wide, 35in.(89cm.) deep
Provenance
By repute, the Duke of Wellington

Lot Essay

W. Priest, appraiser and upholster, is recorded at 17 and 24 Water Street, London from 1837-1893. Many known pieces of furniture bear his stamp or trade label at his adress. Labels from his Tudor Street address describe his business as a 'Furniture Warehouse'. It is threfore probable that Priest was also selling secondhand items, labelled furniture dates from c. 1790 to the mid-Victorian period. (G. Beard and C. Gilbert, eds. The Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840, 1986, p.717).