A walnut and parcel-gilt escritoire, by Whytock & Reid of Edinburgh, the rectangular top above a fall-flap writing slope, carved and painted with the arms of Thomson and the motto De Cinere Resurgo, enclosing a fitted interior with variously-sized pigeon holes, on pierced trestle-end supports carved and painted with stylised fruiting foliage, joined by a bowed stretcher centred by a carved and painted acanthus finial, 38in. (96.5cm) wide