Lot Essay
This rectangular desk, designed in the 'French' manner with cut corners, Greek 'palmette' mounts and coupled columnar end-supports with octagonal tapering octagonal 'herm' shafts on plinth bases, has features in common with a "Library table ... ornamented with or-molu brass-work" engraved in 1812 and illustrated in Rudolph Ackermann's 'Repository of Arts'. (See P. Agius, Regency Furniture & Interiors, Marlborough, 1984, pl.86).
It is possible that this desk was designed by William Atkinson (d.1839), who had succeeded James Wyatt in 1813, as architect to George, Prince Regent, later King George IV's Board of Ordnance, and was manufactured by George Bullock (d.1818) of Oxford Street. Its elegant sturdiness typifies the character of Bullock's furniture, such as Sir Walter Scott's dining-chairs at Abbotsford, which were provided at this time under the direction of Atkinson by Bullock, assisted by the architect and furniture designer Richard Bridgens. (See C. Wainwright, George Bullock, Exhibition Catalogue, 1988, fig. 17). Some of Bullock's furniture also featured in Ackermann's Repository', including a chair designed by Bridgens, which appeared in 1817. However the most famous venture associated with Bullock, was the furnishing of Napoleon's residence on St Helena in 1815, carried out under the direction of Atkinson at the wish of the Prince Regent.
Prince Leopold of Saxe-Saalfield-Coburg married Princess Charlotte (d.1817), daughter of King George IV in 1816, when Claremont was acquired and furnished for them by the Crown, and he lived there until his death in 1865. The desk, which branded 'Claremont' is likely to have been designed for them in 1816.
In 1882 Queen Victoria settled Claremont on her youngest son Leopold, Duke of Albany (d.1884) on his marriage to Princess Helen of Waldeck. The duchess of Albany lived at Claremont with her daughter Alice, later Countess of Athlone, until her death in 1922.
It is possible that this desk was designed by William Atkinson (d.1839), who had succeeded James Wyatt in 1813, as architect to George, Prince Regent, later King George IV's Board of Ordnance, and was manufactured by George Bullock (d.1818) of Oxford Street. Its elegant sturdiness typifies the character of Bullock's furniture, such as Sir Walter Scott's dining-chairs at Abbotsford, which were provided at this time under the direction of Atkinson by Bullock, assisted by the architect and furniture designer Richard Bridgens. (See C. Wainwright, George Bullock, Exhibition Catalogue, 1988, fig. 17). Some of Bullock's furniture also featured in Ackermann's Repository', including a chair designed by Bridgens, which appeared in 1817. However the most famous venture associated with Bullock, was the furnishing of Napoleon's residence on St Helena in 1815, carried out under the direction of Atkinson at the wish of the Prince Regent.
Prince Leopold of Saxe-Saalfield-Coburg married Princess Charlotte (d.1817), daughter of King George IV in 1816, when Claremont was acquired and furnished for them by the Crown, and he lived there until his death in 1865. The desk, which branded 'Claremont' is likely to have been designed for them in 1816.
In 1882 Queen Victoria settled Claremont on her youngest son Leopold, Duke of Albany (d.1884) on his marriage to Princess Helen of Waldeck. The duchess of Albany lived at Claremont with her daughter Alice, later Countess of Athlone, until her death in 1922.