The rectangular hinged ratcheted top with retracting book-rest and three-quarter baluster gallery above a blind fretwork frieze enclosing a drawer with a green baize-lined slide and a removable flap, above a fitted section of drawers and divisions, the sides with candle-slides, on chamfered square legs with quadrant inner columns, on brass castors, the underside inscribed in chalk 'TRUL 15/8'
34¼ in. (87 cm.) high; 36¼ in. (92 cm.) wide; 23½ in. (60 cm.) deep

With Trollope & Sons, 1959.
Anonymous sale; Christie's, London, 25 November 2004, lot 9 (sold £14,000),
where acquired by the present owner.

* Please note that this lot is available to view at Christie's warehouse, Park Royal. Please contact Anna Schiff (aschiff@christies.com) for assistance.

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Lot Essay

A related Chinese fret-carved architect's table with similar 'Cobb' handle, baluster gallery and ribbon-and-rosette carved edge was sold by Mrs E.M. Wheeler, Franks, Horton Kirby, Kent, Christie's, London, 26 May 1977, lot 135. The pattern of handle was favoured by the St Martin's Lane cabinet-maker, John Cobb (d. 1778), appointed cabinet-maker to George III. It is found on a group of commodes attributed to Cobb discussed by L. Wood in Catalogue of Commodes, London, 1994, pp. 93-96 and also on the pair of lacquer commodes almost certainly supplied by Cobb to the 4th Earl of Shaftesbury (d. 1771) for St Giles's House, Dorset, circa 1760.

A further related mahogany fretwork-carved architect's desk is illustrated in H. Cescinsky, English Furniture from Gothic to Sheraton, New York, 1937, p. 297.