What is the most common type of mahogany desk?

The Victorian mahogany pedestal desk. Pedestal appears in a third of all titles and Victorian in just under a third, so that phrase describes a large slice of what comes up. Within that, twin-pedestal and kneehole forms lead, with single-pedestal desks as the smaller alternative.

How does a partners desk differ from a pedestal desk?

A partners desk is finished and fitted on both sides, with drawers or cupboards front and back, so two people can sit facing each other. An ordinary pedestal desk is fitted on one side only. Partners desks account for 428 titles, including examples of eighteen and twenty-two drawers. One sampled desk is built on four pedestals rather than two.

Are all desks in this category pedestal desks?

No. Around half are pedestal, kneehole or partners forms. A fifth or so are flat writing and library tables on legs, with a shallow drawer or two and no pedestals. The rest split between cylinder, roll-top and tambour desks, davenports, ladies' desks and bonheur du jour, and a thin run of campaign, military and architect's pieces.

What period are most mahogany desks from?

Victorian is the single largest group, followed by listings dated only as 19th Century. Edwardian, the 1900s and the 1910s together form a second concentration. The dated field stretches from 1700 to 1960, and the 1920s bucket shows the form continuing well past the Edwardian years. Eighteenth-century pieces are a scarce fraction and sit at the top of the range.

Which makers are named on mahogany desks?

Maple & Co is cited by 24 dealers on Sellingantiques, Edwards & Roberts by 15 and Gillows in its various forms by 12. James Shoolbred, Holland & Sons and Waring & Gillow follow. Names appear stamped, on a label, or as an attribution in the title. A named maker is a minority signature across the category, but a consistent one.

What does kidney shaped mean on a desk?

A curved top with a concave front, so the writer sits within the sweep of the desk rather than square to it. It is a recurring late-Victorian and Edwardian shape. Kidney appears in 88 titles, 72 of them as kidney shaped. Serpentine and bow-front tops sit alongside it, and shaped tops of all kinds gather in the upper part of the range.

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Antique Mahogany Desks

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A mahogany writing desk, usually English and usually built as a flat leather-topped writing surface carried on banks of drawers, made for libraries, studies and offices.