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A classic antique mahogany partners desk
from the first half of the 19th century supplied or made by the London
firm of M. Willson, London.*
London furniture marked with the makers name has always been desirable and is getting rarer. Desks of this type have always been popular and proved to be good investments in the long term. A similar desk in the West End of London would probably be on sale at a considerably larger sum than this.
The desk is a good size (5 foot 6 inches wide -168cm)
has excellent proportions and made with well figured attractive mahogany
timbers.
Desks of this size are increasingly hard to find and
the added provenance of the makers / suppliers stamp (M
Willson, 68 Great Queen Street, London) on the top edge of the
two middle drawers, makes this a rare desk of very good quality.
The top has a black hide writing surface with gilt and
blind tooling surrounded by a cross band of mahogany with a
thumb moulded
edge It is fitted with three drawers to either side and
all drawers have mahogany linings with hand cut dovetail
joints. The drawers have ogee mouldings to the front edge, turned mahogany
pull handles and the original brass locks and escutcheons.
The pedestals are each fitted with three drawers to
the front and cupboards to the reverse and stand on plinth bases with
hidden castors. Each cupboard also has an adjustable shelf.
The desk is made in three sections, the top and separate
pedestals, for ease of transportation and installation.
Notes:
T and M. Willson
Thomas Willson is entered in directories as a furniture broker and
appraiser of 68 Great Queen Street, between 1821 and 1829. Mary Willson
and son continued the business from 1830 - 1837 and after 1838 Matthew
Willson ran a furniture warehouse, furniture works and upholstery
business at the same address.
Only one piece of furniture with Willson's label has
so far been traced. It stated that the firm was established in 1818
and indicates that, contrary to popular belief, he was a cabinet maker
as well as a furniture broker: 'THOMAS WILLSON, Cabinet Maker, Upholsterer,
& co. 68 GREAT QUEEN STREET, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London. Every
article of furniture for the Drawing, Dining, Bed Room and Library
of first-class make. Established 1818.
This important fresh evidence suggests that the firm's
name-stamped furniture can be divided into second hand pieces, which
were merely retailed and items made in their own workshop for sale.
The half dozen or so articles impressed 'M WILLSON'
(by his widow Mary or son Matthew) seem, with one exception, to date
from the 1830's.
From the 'Pictorial Dictionary of MARKED
LONDON FURNITURE 1700 - 1840' By Christopher Gilbert. Published by
The Furniture History Society and W. S. Many & Son Ltd. 1996.
Date: circa 1835
Dimensions:
Width: 66 inches - 168cm
Depth: 42 inches - 107cm
Height: 31 inches - 79cm
Height to kneehole: 24.5 inches - 62cm
Reference Number: SN441
Price: £9,950
Price includes free delivery
to mainland UK addresses
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Converter.
If you are interested in this antique
mahogany partners desk please contact
us quoting reference: SN441
Free
Delivery
If you have an antique desk, antique writing
table or antique chair that you would like to sell please
ask us for a no obligation quote.
