CIRCA 1785,

The elegant form of this ladies' writing cabinet and the use of high quality well-figured mahogany and satinwood may indicate production from one of the established and respected firms of either Seddon, Sons and Shackleton or Gillows of London and Lancaster. Each firm is renowned for their refined forms of sophisticated furniture. The use of the ormolu tablet cast with conjoined medallions is an interesting feature, where more frequently one finds such decoration carved in wood. In 1786, Sophie von La Roche, a German lady, visited Seddon's workshops and subsequently wrote about her experience. At one point while discussing the numerous different activities of the men at work within the workshop she notes 'Girdlers - who mould the bronze into graceful patterns..'(C. Gilbert, Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture, 1700-1840, Leeds, 1996, p. 48).