The design of the secretaire-drawer is identical to that on a number of stamped Gillow pedestal desks, including one shown on the cover of The Antique Collector, May 1987.
The development of the design is complex. Thomas Chippendale supplied a secretaire writing-table to Paxton, Berwickshire circa 1775. Like much of the Paxton furniture its design is immensely restrained and it is supported on broad square tapering fluted legs of very similar form to the present lot. (Mrs. Home-Tobertson, sold in these Rooms, 9 December 1971, lot 114 and illustrated in C. Gilbert, op.cit., p. 239, fig. 438). The double-layered interior appears recognisably complete in a design by Thomas Shearer in the Cabinet-Makers' London Book of Prices, London, 1788, p. 12. The elliptical centre appears in the following design, p. 13, attached to a cylinder-bureau. Precise dating would be extremely difficult given the time difference between the Chippendale design and the pieces of similar inspiration, illustrated in Sheraton's Cabinet Dictionary, 1803.
A secretaire writing-table with identical drawer was sold anonymously, in these Rooms, 9 April 1992, lot 171, and from Mere Hall, Cheshire, Christie's house sale, 23 May 1994, lot 166