.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
In 1759 Thomas Chippendale (d. 1779) of St. Martin's Lane supplied a 'library table' of this pattern to William, 5th Earl of Dumfries for Dumfries House, Scotland, and invoiced it on May 5th as 'A Mahog; Library-Table of very fine wood the top cover'd wt. best black leather, a Writing drawer, at one End wt. a double rising slider cover'd, & drawers & Cupboards in the sides & strong triple wheel castors ... £2.-.-.' (C. Gilbert, The Life and Work of Thomas Chippendale, London, 1978, vol. I, p. 138 and vol. II, figs. 431 and 432). In the same year he engraved a desk of this pattern, with plinth-supported pedestals and pairs of handles fitted at the ends above moulded panels with hollowed corners, and this was published in his Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director, London, 3rd ed., 1762, pl. LXXVII.
Another pedestal desk of this pattern, also attributed to Thomas Chippendale, was sold anonymously, in these Rooms, 3 July 1997, lot 50 (£139,000). The use of fiddleback mahogany on the moulded edge of the top and centrally-positioned wooden castors are features associated with the St Martin's Lane cabinet-maker, Thomas Chippendale.
Another pedestal desk of this pattern, also attributed to Thomas Chippendale, was sold anonymously, in these Rooms, 3 July 1997, lot 50 (£139,000). The use of fiddleback mahogany on the moulded edge of the top and centrally-positioned wooden castors are features associated with the St Martin's Lane cabinet-maker, Thomas Chippendale.