Architect's table
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1730
Materials
Mahogany, walnut and burr-walnut top, brass castors
Measurements
75 x 84.5 cm
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire
NT 1127933
Summary
A mahogany, walnut and burr walnut architect's or artist's table, English, circa 1730, the hinged crossbanded and featherbanded rectangular top with re-entrant corners and adjusting on a ratchet, above a drawer opening on the front legs to a hinged leather-lined panel enclosing compartments and secret drawers, the sides fitted with swiveling brass candlestands, all raised on mahogany legs with unusual brass castors. This is an early example of the architect's table, which was made more commonly later in the century, and of mahogany. A very similar table to this example at Hardwick Hall is at Cotehele [NT 347699].
Provenance
By descent until, following the death of Edward William Spencer Cavendish, 10th Duke of Devonshire (1895 - 1950), Hardwick Hall and its contents were accepted by HM Treasury in part payment of death duties and transferred to the National Trust, in 1959.