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Lot Essay
This ingenious mahogany architect's desk was supplied by Gillows of Lancaster to Colonel John Myddelton of Gwaynynog Hall, Denbighshire in 1778; John Myddelton was a cousin of the Myddelton-Biddulph family at neighbouring Chirk Castle. Gillows recorded the commission on 8 October 1778, 'Jn. Myddelton at Gwaynynog near Denbigh to the Care of Mr Turner Architect Chester ... a neat Mahogany Buroe Writing Table all the front and top inlaid & banded likewise 12 inlaid covers and 2 private draws Top to Elevate - A suit of good brass Locks - Castors 9. 9s.' (Gillows' Waste Book, no. 448). There is also an 18th century hand-written paper label with delivery instructions to this effect applied to the underside of the desk. When it was presented to Myddelton, or perhaps to his agent, Turner, it was evidently not quite to the customer's satisfaction because Gillows charged an additional 4s. 'For altering the back by Inlaying it w 2 Pannels - 2 brass Handles' (ibid.).
The earliest Gillows documented pedestal desk comprising two pedestals with drawers supported by a horizontal desk top with one or more drawers was made by a journeyman, David Wright, in August 1751, now in the Victoria & Albert Museum (S. Stuart, Gillows of Lancaster and London 1730-1840, Woodbridge, 2008, vol. I, p. 32, pl. 14). From this date forward, there were a number of variations of the style illustrated in the Estimate Sketch Books. The present example is most closely related to a design supplied to a Mr. Dickinson in 1766 (ibid., p. 275, pl. 286). The latter was also altered by Gillows at their customer's request, the changes described in a letter from Richard Gillow dated 1766 who thought the appearance of the Dickinson desk would be greatly improved and the structure stronger with three drawers under the top supported on rails rather than the two drawers suggested by his customer. Interestingly, the present table has three drawers under the top. The letter also refers to the use of castors enabling furniture to be placed anywhere in a room. Mr. Dickinson clearly did not agree and his desk was made with an unfinished back necessitating it to be positioned against a wall. However, the present desk is fully finished and has castors allowing movement throughout the room. The letter also mentions the extra framed top that could be raised to a height more comfortable to stand. Such desks were not only for use in private gentleman's libraries but also for accounting houses. Another desk almost identical to the present example was made for Williams Hassell of Penrith in November 1774 (ibid., p.275, pl.287).
BEATRIX POTTER - AN ILLUSTRIOUS VISITOR AT GWAYNYNOG
Gwaynynog remained with the Myddelton family until the 1870s when it was acquired by Oliver Burton who subsequently passed the house to his brother, Fred. From 1895, their niece, Beatrix Potter (d. 1947), one of the world's best-loved children's authors and illustrators, was a frequent visitor and over a period of fifteen years Gwaynynog became one of her favourite haunts. It is not known if the present desk remained at Gwaynynog but seemingly when Fred Burton and his wife, Harriet, arrived at the house they also took possession of existing furniture to which they added 'a truly wonderful collection of Chippendale mahogany' (S. Denyer, Beatrix Potter: at Home in the Lake District, London, 2000, p. 13). Beatrix Potter noted that the Myddletons had through 'lavish prodigality... [been] reduced to living in the kitchen', and Gwaynynog was probably sold to Burton complete with its contents (ibid.). She lovingly described the paneled rooms, uneven oaken floors and steps, and closets at Gwaynynog, 'I have never seen rooms more faultless in scheme of colour or Sheraton more elegant without being flimsy'. She also included the house in an unfinished story about two bats called Flittermouse and Fluttermouse or 'A Tale without a Story, for myself' (ibid.; L. Linder, A history of the writings of Beatrix Potter including unpublished work, London, 1987). During this period she made numerous sketches and watercolours of the smaller rooms and older spaces but unfortunately not of the grandly furnished rooms where this desk may have stood.
The gardens at Gwaynynog inspired another unpublished story, 'Llewellyn's Well' written about 1911; they were also the setting for one of her best-loved published tales, 'The Tale of Flopsy Bunnies'. The potting shed featured in this book is still at Gwaynynog, and today the house is a pilgrimage site for enthusiastic visitors.
The earliest Gillows documented pedestal desk comprising two pedestals with drawers supported by a horizontal desk top with one or more drawers was made by a journeyman, David Wright, in August 1751, now in the Victoria & Albert Museum (S. Stuart, Gillows of Lancaster and London 1730-1840, Woodbridge, 2008, vol. I, p. 32, pl. 14). From this date forward, there were a number of variations of the style illustrated in the Estimate Sketch Books. The present example is most closely related to a design supplied to a Mr. Dickinson in 1766 (ibid., p. 275, pl. 286). The latter was also altered by Gillows at their customer's request, the changes described in a letter from Richard Gillow dated 1766 who thought the appearance of the Dickinson desk would be greatly improved and the structure stronger with three drawers under the top supported on rails rather than the two drawers suggested by his customer. Interestingly, the present table has three drawers under the top. The letter also refers to the use of castors enabling furniture to be placed anywhere in a room. Mr. Dickinson clearly did not agree and his desk was made with an unfinished back necessitating it to be positioned against a wall. However, the present desk is fully finished and has castors allowing movement throughout the room. The letter also mentions the extra framed top that could be raised to a height more comfortable to stand. Such desks were not only for use in private gentleman's libraries but also for accounting houses. Another desk almost identical to the present example was made for Williams Hassell of Penrith in November 1774 (ibid., p.275, pl.287).
BEATRIX POTTER - AN ILLUSTRIOUS VISITOR AT GWAYNYNOG
Gwaynynog remained with the Myddelton family until the 1870s when it was acquired by Oliver Burton who subsequently passed the house to his brother, Fred. From 1895, their niece, Beatrix Potter (d. 1947), one of the world's best-loved children's authors and illustrators, was a frequent visitor and over a period of fifteen years Gwaynynog became one of her favourite haunts. It is not known if the present desk remained at Gwaynynog but seemingly when Fred Burton and his wife, Harriet, arrived at the house they also took possession of existing furniture to which they added 'a truly wonderful collection of Chippendale mahogany' (S. Denyer, Beatrix Potter: at Home in the Lake District, London, 2000, p. 13). Beatrix Potter noted that the Myddletons had through 'lavish prodigality... [been] reduced to living in the kitchen', and Gwaynynog was probably sold to Burton complete with its contents (ibid.). She lovingly described the paneled rooms, uneven oaken floors and steps, and closets at Gwaynynog, 'I have never seen rooms more faultless in scheme of colour or Sheraton more elegant without being flimsy'. She also included the house in an unfinished story about two bats called Flittermouse and Fluttermouse or 'A Tale without a Story, for myself' (ibid.; L. Linder, A history of the writings of Beatrix Potter including unpublished work, London, 1987). During this period she made numerous sketches and watercolours of the smaller rooms and older spaces but unfortunately not of the grandly furnished rooms where this desk may have stood.
The gardens at Gwaynynog inspired another unpublished story, 'Llewellyn's Well' written about 1911; they were also the setting for one of her best-loved published tales, 'The Tale of Flopsy Bunnies'. The potting shed featured in this book is still at Gwaynynog, and today the house is a pilgrimage site for enthusiastic visitors.