This French-fashioned desk, with canted pilasters and bronzed Egyptian lioness-heads, follows an 1804 pedestal pattern in George Smith's, Collection of Designs for Household Furniture and Interior Decoration, 1808 (pl. 92). The 1804 pattern featured bacchic lion-paws, whereas these elephant feet are likely to be heraldic and may indicate that the secretaire was commissioned by Sir Andrew Corbet of Moreton Corbet, Staffordshire. Its bolt-like locks bear the name of Joseph Bramah (d.1814) of Piccadilly, and were executed before his move to New Bond Street in 1807.