MID-18TH CENTURY

John Mayhew's patterns for related 'Reading and Music Desks' featured in The Universal System of Household Furniture, 1762. A number of related desks were supplied for Nostell Priory, Yorkshire by the St. Martin's Lane cabinet-maker Thomas Chippendale (d. 1779). One was invoiced at £2.10.0. in March 1767 as 'A neat mahogany music desk on a pillar and Claw to rise at pleasure'. Its pair, including partitions for the drawer, was invoiced a few days later, while in May of the same year an invoice of £0.12.0. was sent for '8 Mahogany Candlebearers for your musick desks'. In January 1769 he also sent an invoice for £1.18.0. for a 'Mahogany reading desk to rise out a pillar and Claw'. One of the Nostell desks with similar Doric moulded pillar, is fitted with brass rather than wooden candlebearers (J. Hardy, 'Sir Rowland Winn's Music Desk', Furniture History, 1997, pp. 134-135, fig. 1).