Lot 429
A fine 19th century mahogany, tulipwood parquetry and ormolu mounted cylinder desk By Edwards & Roberts
Auction: 19 March 2008 at 11:00 GMT
Description
the rectangular top with pierced gilt metal gallery above a cylinder fall decorated with a ribbon-tied marquetry musical trophy, releasing a writing slide with tooled leather inset and enclosing four short drawers around a shelved centre, similarly embellished with satinwood crossbanding and parquetry, the shaped frieze with a central button release drawer, mounted with a plaquette depicting a procession of Bacchanalian cherubs, flanked by two short drawers with bold rococo cast escutcheons applied with finely chased flower-filled baskets flanked by acanthus scrolls, each side with further plaquettes cast with cherubs allegorising the Arts of Sculpture and Painting, the frieze drawer stamped 'EDWARDS & ROBERTS', and with an internal label: 'Edwards and Roberts, Wardour St., 126 Piccadilly, 532 Oxford St., London' , the whole framed by rope twist, foliate cast, corrugated and beaded mounts and decorated with line inlay, on square tapering legs ending in stiff leaf cast sabots
Dimensions
122cm wide, 109cm high, 62cm deep
Footnote
Provenance: originally consigned from a country house in the Scottish Borders to Phillips Auctioneers in Edinburgh during the late 1980s, where it was purchased at auction by the current owner.
The firm of Edwards & Roberts was noted for the exacting standards it brought to a wide range of furniture. Notwithstanding the firm's own high standards, this desk could be regarded as being of 'exhibition quality', drawing its inspiration from the virtuoso work of 18th century French cabinet makers, and particularly, the designs of Jean-Henri Riesener.