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Lot Essay
This writing table is closely comparable to the small side table with two drawers in the frieze, attributed to Mayhew and Ince and possibly identified with 'A Mahogany Writing Table for Do. (Mr. Jones's Office) Covered with black Leather on Taper feet, & containing 2 drawers on each side finish'd with best Locks, Keys & brass handles complete 8.8.0' supplied by Messrs. Mayhew and Ince on 12 July 1790 to the Duke of Bedford on the Town Account. The latter was sold by The Duke of Bedford, Woburn Abbey, Christie's house sale 'Property from Two Ducal Collections', 20-21 September 2004, lot 75.
With its distinctive elongated 'Palmyreen' oval patera, this writing table relates to Mayhew and Ince's documented oeuvre. Similar paterae feature on the 'large mahogany semi oval sideboard curiously inlaid with different colour'd woods' bought by Henry Bankes from Mayhew and Ince on 30 August 1786 for £29.18s.3d (now at Kingston Lacy), as well as on the bowfronted corner table supplied to the 4th Duke of Marlborough (d. 1817) (H. Roberts, 'Nicely Fitted Up', Furniture History, 1994, fig.27). These same handles featured on the commode attributed to Mayhew and Ince sold anonymously, Christie's London, 4 July 1996, lot 389.
With its distinctive elongated 'Palmyreen' oval patera, this writing table relates to Mayhew and Ince's documented oeuvre. Similar paterae feature on the 'large mahogany semi oval sideboard curiously inlaid with different colour'd woods' bought by Henry Bankes from Mayhew and Ince on 30 August 1786 for £29.18s.3d (now at Kingston Lacy), as well as on the bowfronted corner table supplied to the 4th Duke of Marlborough (d. 1817) (H. Roberts, 'Nicely Fitted Up', Furniture History, 1994, fig.27). These same handles featured on the commode attributed to Mayhew and Ince sold anonymously, Christie's London, 4 July 1996, lot 389.