ATTRIBUTED TO WRIGHT & ELWICK, THIRD QUARTER 18TH CENTURY

This desk relates to the George II 'Modern' fashioned 'Writing table' executed around 1750 by Thomas Chippendale (d.1779) and illustrated in his Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director, 1754, pl.52. As in Chippendale's Director pattern, the arched panelled doors of this desk are flanked by projecting pilasters and filigreed with a triumphal-arched trellis of ribbon-frets. Its 'picturesque' herm-tapered and flower-festooned pilasters also relate to those of Chippendale's 'Slab Table' pattern (Household Furniture, 1760, pl.29), while its feet appear to derive from those featured in his 'Chinese Sopha' pattern (Director, pl. 25). This amalgamation of Chippendale designs, suggests this desk may be by the firm of Wright and Elwick, cabinet-makers from Wakefield, Yorkshire, who imitated many of the Director designs whilst incorporating their own idiosyncracies. A bombé commode, attributed to Wright and Elwick, sold in the Wentworth Woodhouse sale, Christie's, 8 July 1998, lot 65, has a gadrooned edge which is comparable with the current desk's deep-relief-carved gadrooned apron.