AN EARLY VICTORIAN OAK PARTNER'S DESK

The oak desk is in the Victorian 'Gothic' style of the architect A. W. N. Pugin (d. 1852) adopted in 1844 for the furnishing of Charles Barry's New Palace of Westminster. The young Pugin had assisted his father in George IV's furnishing of Windsor Castle, and had demonstrated his interest in ancient woodwork and furniture by publications such as Details of Ancient Timber Houses of the 15th and 16th Centuries, 1837; Gothic Furniture of the 15th Century, 1837; Floriated Ornament, 1849 and True Principles of Pointed or Christian Architecture, 1841.

A related oak desk, attributed to Gillows after a design by Pugin, was sold by Christopher Gibbs, Esq., The Manor House, Clifton Hampden, Christie's house sale, 25-26 September 2000, lot 73 (£18,800).