Escritoire
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1675
Materials
Constructed in oak and walnut, veneered with olive wood and cocus wood
Measurements
153 x 120 x 44 cm
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Ham House, Surrey
NT 1140035.1
Summary
An escritoire, or 'scriptor', English, circa 1675, with olivewood and cocus wood oysterwork veneer, mounted with brass escutcheons and knobs. The cabinet opens with two drawers to the top, above a fall front revealing an interior centred by a niche and fitted with eight drawers and pigeon holes. Raised on a stand (NT 1140035.2).
Provenance
Possibly listed in the Ham House inventory of 1679, in the Duchess's Private Closet, as "One scriptore and frame of walnut tree". Acquired in 1948 by HM Government when Sir Lyonel, 4th Bt (1854 – 1952) and Sir Cecil Tollemache, 5th Bt (1886 – 1969) presented Ham House to the National Trust, and entrusted to the care of the Victoria & Albert Museum, until 1990, when returned to the care of the National Trust, and to which ownership was transferred in 2002.
Marks and inscriptions
Repaired by Tiller - on typed label on underside.
References
Rowell 2013: Christopher Rowell (ed.), Ham House, 400 Years of Collecting and Patronage, Yale University Press, New Haven & London 2013, p.124 Thornton and Tomlin 1980 Peter Thornton, and Maurice Tomlin. “The Furnishing and Decoration of Ham House.” Furniture History, The Journal of The Furniture History Society Vol.XVI, 1980 Bowett 2002: Adam Bowett, English Furniture 1660-1714, 2002, p.55