Davenport
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1850 (and earlier)
Materials
Oak, leather
Measurements
85 cm (H); 54 cm (W); 54 cm (D)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Speke Hall, Merseyside
NT 1196581
Summary
An oak davenport, English, circa 1850, incorporating earlier carvings. With a hinged writing slope with leather inset top above single a cupboard door carved with Adam and Eve below an urn strapwork cartouche, fruit and grotesque animal designs to frieze and side panels, two figurative pilaster supports to the front. Dated '1575'
Provenance
Probably purchased by Richard Watt V (d.1865) during his restoration and refurbishment of Speke Hall during the 1850s and 60s. Bequeathed, as a secondary devise, to the National Trust by Adelaide Watt (d.1921) in 1943. Speke was initially bequeathed to the Norris family (who built the original house during the 16th century). It was then leased to Liverpool City Council and later to the Museums Department of Merseyside County Council. The National Trust took over direct management of Speke and its contents in 1986.
Marks and inscriptions
1575 (date carved in strapwork reserve to right of frieze)