Antique George III Mahogany Architect's Desk - Circa 1790 - in the manner of Gillows

A fine and rare late 18thC  George III English mahogany knee-hole architect's desk, the top  double ratcheted above a secretaire drawer with a leather topped slide enclosing a kneehole with door, flanked by three drawers, rosette brasspull out  handles, the top drawer opens to reveal a central leather topped writing slide flanked by four  inlaid  alphabetical correspondence compartments openable from the top by brass handles (new);  the top of the desk cantilevers up for either reading or writing while standing up; circa 1790;

The desk relates to patterns published by Gillows, such as the bureau writing table with double ratcheted top executed for the Earl of Shrewsbury in 1789, and a writing table of 1794 in a book titled Gillow Furniture Designs 1760 -1800 , Hertfordshire by L.Boynton. A pattern for a similar desk features in Gillows 1798 Estimate Sketchbook preserved in the Westminster City Library.  Gillows also supplied Sir Walter Scott  with a desk like this  for his house on Castle Street in Edinburgh.

Dimensions closed: 49"W x 18.5"D x 32"H;

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