English Inlaid Writing Table, Ca. 1790

England Ca. 1790

A wonderful example of an inlaid mahogany metamorphic writing table that folds up into a two drawer stand. The primary wood is mahogany with rosewood cross banding, line inlay and possibly boxwood. A delight to the eye.

The divided top opens out to a flat tooled leather writing surface. Each fold out side has a pull release opening for storage. A front top panel lifts up and can be set to multiple angles. The front adjustable panel is moved to a forward leaning position to access a brass handle that, when pulled forward, raises a compartment with pigeon holes and three drawers. The raised compartment has two wood strips that pop out at the rear to support the compartment. To allow the compartment to fall back down, the two wood strips at the back are pushed inward allowing the weight to drop the compartment back into the interior behind the two front drawers of the case.

A closely related example is pictured in The Shorter Dictionary of English Furniture by Ralph Edwards, page 562, Illus. #26., 1979 edition.

Price

$7200

Condition

Very good. Normal signs of usage and stresses from wood shrinkage over 230 years. Very old, possibly original tooled leather writing surface. Retains its original brass hardware and turned bone pulls.

Measurements

38.125" H X 23" L X 19" D, Fully open 29.25" H X 46" L X 35" H