Webberley Antiques has dated this piece to the Regency era.
The matching rosewood stand with original brass casters is also inset with brass stringing and has a cantilever mechanism whereby the front two legs hinge forwards to support the desk when in use. There is a raised integral border on three sides of the stand which the box fits precisely into.
The desk itself opens to reveal an olive green leather skiver with gold tooled border embossed with thistles, the skiver appears original and has a fine split and superficial wear.
The lower half of this writing slope lifts to reveal a compartment below lined with naturally scented cedar wood. The upper half lifts to reveal a second cedar lined compartment - this with a removable break board - behind which are three original secret drawers with cedar linings and extraordinary finely mitred joints, the fronts dressed with thickly cut rosewood veneers and retaining their original tiny turned button handles.
Above this is a set of wells, one central long quill trough with shaped rosewood cover, two containing their original glass and brass topped inkwells and two other empty compartments, one with rosewood lid – again the lids with tiny hand turned button handles.
At the rear of the desk is a most unusual rising section of four larger drawers, each with cedar linings and rosewood fronts. The upper two drawers with large and original starburst design gilt bronze handles, the lower two with plain brass button handles which are original also.
This rising section and lower writing slope both with brass thumb locks which hold the sections firmly in place during transport. It lifts easily and has two sprung rosewood flies which are pushed gently inwards for this section to be withdrawn back down into the desk.
A really exemplary example in extraordinarily complete and original condition. It is bespoke made to be light, small and yet full of useful and usable space.
This desk must have been treasured and used carefully for all of the last two hundred years. It almost certainly saw battle given that this was a time of the Napoleonic Wars and in 1815 of the Battle of Waterloo, and British forces were engaged in many further wars and campaigns continued to occupy British Forces and belonged to a very high ranking officer.
A special piece of late Georgian campaign furniture, such a lovely thing, and from a private London estate.
Dimensions are:
Height is 37.75 inches (when rear drawer section is raised), and 34.5 inches when this is closed.
Width is 20.5 inches, depth is 12.75 inches when all is closed and 21 inches when desk is open and legs of stand are forward forming the support.
For metric please multiply by 2.5
Webberley Antiques has dated this piece to the Regency era.
Specialists in 18th century and earlier furniture for more than 45 years
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Webberley Antiques Profile Page
Regency Rosewood and Brass Inlaid Campaign Desk on Stand C. 1825
