Erddig's Tortorshell Table inlayed with Brass, circa 1695
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1695
Materials
Turtleshell, brass, pewter, bronze, softwood, walnut, steel
Measurements
77.5 x 109 x 66 cm
Place of origin
France
Order this imageCollection
Erddig, Wrexham
NT 1146950
Summary
A brass-inlaid and turtleshell-veneered bureau Mazarin, or writing table, French, circa 1695. With seven drawers arranged around a central drawer, recessed for a kneehole, and on two sets of four 'S'-scroll legs, each set joined by a wavy 'X'-form rectangular-section stretcher, and on turned brass feet. The front bottom edge with undulating aprons with pendant finials. Veneered with red-stained turtleshell, and inlaid all-over with cut and engraved brass marquetry depicting figures dancing and foliated scrolls, arabesques and rinceaux. The drawers lined with walnut. With key.
Full description
This remarkable desk, made around 1695, has been described as 'one of the earliest French Boulle writing tables to be recorded in an English collection'. It was at Erddig from at least 1726 when it was recorded in the Best Bedchamber, amongst other treasured pieces at Erddig. It was probably acquired by John Meller (1665-1733) who acquired Erddig from its builder, Joshua Edisbury (d. 1718) in 1718. It was probably acquired during a period of remodeling and refurbishment in the 1720s. When the antiquarian John Loveday (1711-1789) visited Erddig in 1732 he remarked on its rarity and - erroneously - thought it had been 'Henry VIII's writing desk'. Louisa Yorke's (1863-1951) recollections of Erddig, called Facts and Fancies, noted that the table was 'repaired by Edward Davies about 1909 or 1910. The left back leg was entirely eaten by worms, and the whole table was in a most dilapidated condition. Much brass and tortoise-shell (from old Spanish combs) was supplied and two men came over every day from Chester for about a week'.
Provenance
Listed in the Inventory taken at Erddig in August 1726 in the Best Bedchamber, and described as '1 Tortorshell Table inlayed wth Brass with Drawers' and seen by John Loveday (1711-1789) in 1732. Given by Philip Yorke III (1905-1978) along with the estate, house and contents to the National Trust in 1973.
References
John Channon and brass-inlaid furniture 1730-1760. New Haven and London, Yale University Press, in association with Leeds City Art Galleries and the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1993., Plate 10 & p. 155 Drury, 1978: Martin Drury. “Early eighteenth-century furniture at Erddig.” Apollo 108 July (1978): pp.46-55., p. 46