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Lot Essay
The patent for the mechanism operating this desk ('Entire New Weights, Bolts and Springs' to operate 'all kinds of Writing and Reading Desks, Tables etc.') was originally granted to Day Gunby in 1798 and Gunby's patent specification drawings (no. 2248) include a comparable kneehole desk. George Seddon took up the rights to this patent the same year. Other desks of this form by the firm of Seddon bear a brass plate engraved 'PATENT SEDDON' with a number indicating the manufacturing sequence (not the model). These include an example sold Christie's, New York, 21-22 April 1995, lot 305 and another sold Christie's, New York, 17 October 1981, lot 159. A further unsigned example was sold Christie's, New York, 11 October 2007, lot 229.
The firm of Seddon at Aldersgate Street, London, was the largest furniture-making firm at the end of the eighteenth century, although few pieces are labelled or documented. The firm was established by George Seddon (d.1804) in about 1750. He was joined by his sons in 1785 and his son-in-law Thomas Shackleton in 1790-95. George Seddon II joined into partnership with Nicholas Morel in 1827 working largely for the Royal family (G. Beard and C. Gilbert, eds., Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840, 1986, pp. 793-798).
The firm of Seddon at Aldersgate Street, London, was the largest furniture-making firm at the end of the eighteenth century, although few pieces are labelled or documented. The firm was established by George Seddon (d.1804) in about 1750. He was joined by his sons in 1785 and his son-in-law Thomas Shackleton in 1790-95. George Seddon II joined into partnership with Nicholas Morel in 1827 working largely for the Royal family (G. Beard and C. Gilbert, eds., Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840, 1986, pp. 793-798).