What defines a Carlton House desk?

A Carlton House desk is a writing table characterised by a wrap-around superstructure containing small drawers, cupboards, and stepped compartments enclosing a flat writing surface with an inset leather panel.

What materials are typical of Edwardian satinwood furniture?

Edwardian satinwood furniture typically features satinwood veneers over pine or oak frames, complemented by hand-painted floral or classical motifs, brass hardware, and gilded or leather elements.

How can authentic Edwardian Carlton House desks be identified?

Authentic Edwardian examples display precise dovetail joinery, hand-painted swags or urn decoration, brass castors on tapered legs, and natural wear patterns consistent with turn-of-the-century craftsmanship.

How can a painted satinwood desk be styled in a modern interior?

A painted satinwood desk works as a focal point in a study, drawing room, or hallway, paired with neutral upholstery and understated brass lighting to balance the intricate painted details.

How should an antique satinwood desk be cared for and maintained?

Position the desk away from direct sunlight and heat sources to prevent timber movement or fading of the painted decoration. Apply clear wax sparingly to the wood and condition the leather writing inset with specialist balm.

for sale €7,313 $7,938

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Painted Writing Desk

Antique Satinwood Bureau

Id #SA1086398

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Antique Edwardian Satin Wood & Floral Painted Carlton House Writing Desk C 1900

Name: Antique Edwardian Satin Wood & Floral Painted Carlton House Writing Desk C 1900
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1086398
Price: 6250 GBP
Availability: InStock

1900 - 1920

For Sale by Regent Antiques

Description

This is a truly exceptional antique Edwardian Sheraton Revival hand painted and inlaid satin wood Carlton House Desk, circa 1900 in date.

This exquisite desk is made from the finest satin wood, and is superbly finished all round with spectacular hand-painted floral decoration as well as superb doves, urns and foliate swags, all in the manner of the Swiss neoclassical painter, Angelica Kauffman.

The raised superstructure is fitted with three useful panel door cupboards flanking six short small drawers and a further pair of end drawers.

A splendid writing slide, fitted with the original inset pale green leather writing surface, is above three frieze drawers, which provide ample storage for all of your personal and business papers.

It is raised on square tapering legs that terminate in spade feet with the original brass castors.

It is complete with the original working brass locks and keys.

The craftsmanship that has gone into this impressive Carlton House Desk is second to none, and it will soon become the centrepiece of your furniture collection.

Condition:

In really excellent condition having only been beautifully cleaned and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 97.5 cm x Width 132.5 cm x Depth 64 cm

Dimensions in inches:

Height 3 foot, 2 inches x Width 4 foot, 4 inches x Depth 2 feet, 1 inch

Carlton House Desk

is a specific antique desk form within the more general bureau à gradin form. This specific form is supposed to have been designed in 1790s for the Prince of Wales (who later became George IV) by George Hepplewhite. It is named after Carlton House, which was at the time the London residence of the Prince of Wales. This kind of desk is sometimes also known as a Carlton House writing table.

The desk is like a normal writing table but the small drawers above the surface form a "U" shape around the user instead of being merely set up in front of him as is usual in a typical bureau a gradin. Unlike other types of bureau a gradin the Carlton House desk usually offers no pigeonholes. There are usually small slopes over the two desktop drawers at the left and right ends of the "U" shape.

Drawings of this type of desk were presented by Hepplewhite in his famous design book the Cabinet Maker and Upholsterers Guide and by Thomas Sheraton in his own famous book of designs, The Cabinet Maker and Upholsterer's Drawing Book, thus ensuring its popularity.

Satin wood

is a hard and durable wood with a satinlike sheen, much used in cabinetmaking, especially in marquetry. It comes from two tropical trees of the family Rutaceae (rue family). East Indian or Ceylon satinwood is the yellowish or dark-brown heartwood of Chloroxylon swietenia.

The lustrous, fine-grained, usually figured wood is used for furniture, cabinetwork, veneers, and backs of brushes. West Indian satin wood, sometimes called yellow wood, is considered superior. It is the golden yellow, lustrous, even-grained wood found in the Florida Keys and the West Indies.

It has long been valued for furniture. It is also used for musical instruments, veneers, and other purposes. Satin wood is classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Sapindales, family Rutaceae.

Maria Anna Angelika Kauffmann RA (30 October 1741 – 5 November 1807), usually known in English as Angelica Kauffman, was a Swiss Neoclassical painter who had a successful career in London and Rome. Remembered primarily as a history painter, Kauffmann was a skilled portraitist, landscape and decoration painter. She was one of the two female founding members of the Royal Academy in London in 1768.

Our reference: A4061

Physical Dimensions

Height

97.5cm (38.39")

Width

132.5cm (52.17")

Depth

64cm (25.20")

Declaration

Regent Antiques has dated this Satinwood Carlton House Desk to the 1900s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1086398

Dealers Internal Reference

A4061

Description

This is a truly exceptional antique Edwardian Sheraton Revival hand painted and inlaid satin wood Carlton House Desk, circa 1900 in date.

This exquisite desk is made from the finest satin wood, and is superbly finished all round with spectacular hand-painted floral decoration as well as superb doves, urns and foliate swags, all in the manner of the Swiss neoclassical painter, Angelica Kauffman.

“

The raised superstructure is fitted with three useful panel door cupboards flanking six short small drawers and a further pair of end drawers.

Regent Antiques

fig 1. An Edwardian satinwood Carlton House writing desk with hand-painted floral swags, a leather writing insert, multiple drawers, and tapered legs with brass castors. — fig 1. Antique Edwardian Satin Wood & Floral Painted Carlton House Writing Desk C 1900

A splendid writing slide, fitted with the original inset pale green leather writing surface, is above three frieze drawers, which provide ample storage for all of your personal and business papers.

It is raised on square tapering legs that terminate in spade feet with the original brass castors.

fig 2. An Edwardian satinwood Carlton House writing desk with hand-painted floral swags, a leather writing insert, multiple drawers, and tapered legs with brass castors. — fig 2. Antique Edwardian Satin Wood & Floral Painted Carlton House Writing Desk C 1900

It is complete with the original working brass locks and keys.

The craftsmanship that has gone into this impressive Carlton House Desk is second to none, and it will soon become the centrepiece of your furniture collection.

fig 3. An Edwardian satinwood Carlton House writing desk with hand-painted floral swags, a leather writing insert, multiple drawers, and tapered legs with brass castors. — fig 3. Antique Edwardian Satin Wood & Floral Painted Carlton House Writing Desk C 1900

Condition:

In really excellent condition having only been beautifully cleaned and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 97.5 cm x Width 132.5 cm x Depth 64 cm

fig 4. An Edwardian satinwood Carlton House writing desk with hand-painted floral swags, a leather writing insert, multiple drawers, and tapered legs with brass castors. — fig 4. Antique Edwardian Satin Wood & Floral Painted Carlton House Writing Desk C 1900

Dimensions in inches:

Height 3 foot, 2 inches x Width 4 foot, 4 inches x Depth 2 feet, 1 inch

Carlton House Desk

is a specific antique desk form within the more general bureau à gradin form. This specific form is supposed to have been designed in 1790s for the Prince of Wales (who later became George IV) by George Hepplewhite. It is named after Carlton House, which was at the time the London residence of the Prince of Wales. This kind of desk is sometimes also known as a Carlton House writing table.

fig 5. An Edwardian satinwood Carlton House writing desk with hand-painted floral swags, a leather writing insert, multiple drawers, and tapered legs with brass castors. — fig 5. Antique Edwardian Satin Wood & Floral Painted Carlton House Writing Desk C 1900

The desk is like a normal writing table but the small drawers above the surface form a "U" shape around the user instead of being merely set up in front of him as is usual in a typical bureau a gradin. Unlike other types of bureau a gradin the Carlton House desk usually offers no pigeonholes. There are usually small slopes over the two desktop drawers at the left and right ends of the "U" shape.

fig 6. An Edwardian satinwood Carlton House writing desk with hand-painted floral swags, a leather writing insert, multiple drawers, and tapered legs with brass castors. — fig 6. Antique Edwardian Satin Wood & Floral Painted Carlton House Writing Desk C 1900

Drawings of this type of desk were presented by Hepplewhite in his famous design book the Cabinet Maker and Upholsterers Guide and by Thomas Sheraton in his own famous book of designs, The Cabinet Maker and Upholsterer's Drawing Book, thus ensuring its popularity.

Satin wood

is a hard and durable wood with a satinlike sheen, much used in cabinetmaking, especially in marquetry. It comes from two tropical trees of the family Rutaceae (rue family). East Indian or Ceylon satinwood is the yellowish or dark-brown heartwood of Chloroxylon swietenia.

The lustrous, fine-grained, usually figured wood is used for furniture, cabinetwork, veneers, and backs of brushes. West Indian satin wood, sometimes called yellow wood, is considered superior. It is the golden yellow, lustrous, even-grained wood found in the Florida Keys and the West Indies.

fig 9. An Edwardian satinwood Carlton House writing desk with hand-painted floral swags, a leather writing insert, multiple drawers, and tapered legs with brass castors. — fig 9. Antique Edwardian Satin Wood & Floral Painted Carlton House Writing Desk C 1900

It has long been valued for furniture. It is also used for musical instruments, veneers, and other purposes. Satin wood is classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Sapindales, family Rutaceae.

fig 10. An Edwardian satinwood Carlton House writing desk with hand-painted floral swags, a leather writing insert, multiple drawers, and tapered legs with brass castors. — fig 10. Antique Edwardian Satin Wood & Floral Painted Carlton House Writing Desk C 1900

Maria Anna Angelika Kauffmann RA (30 October 1741 – 5 November 1807), usually known in English as Angelica Kauffman, was a Swiss Neoclassical painter who had a successful career in London and Rome. Remembered primarily as a history painter, Kauffmann was a skilled portraitist, landscape and decoration painter. She was one of the two female founding members of the Royal Academy in London in 1768.

Our reference: A4061