Kneehole desk
Category
Furniture
Date
1700 - 1799
Materials
Mahogany veneered on oak, pine, brass, ceramic
Measurements
86.5 x 122 x 55 cm
Place of origin
Great Britain
Order this imageCollection
Hatchlands Park, Surrey
NT 1166465
Summary
A mahogany serpentine kneehole-desk, English, 18th century, the shaped top with foliate carved rim, above a long oak-lined drawer containing a gilt-tooled red leather writing surface which slides back to reveal a well with a small secret drawer to either side of the well, either side of the writing surface are an arrangement of dividers, the arrangement to the right side with two circular cut-outs containing two chinoiserie style ceramic jars possibly, one with open neck possibly for ink and the other with small holes possibly a pounce jar, each pedestal with three drawers, each drawer with cockbeading, brass swan neck handle and floral escutcheons, drawers flanked to the outside edge with canted angles applied to the top with a graduated line of carved foliate motifs, the central section with kneehole, above this and below the frieze drawer is a panel drawer without handle, to the rear of the kneehole is a cupboard with paneled door, enclosing one shelf, the base with shaped moulding, on ogee bracket feet.
Provenance
Bequeathed to the National Trust in 1989.