Writing table
attributed to Marsh and Tatham
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1810
Materials
Mahogany, ebonised wood, paint, leather, brass mounts and castors, pine carcass
Measurements
78 x 168 x 99 cm
Order this imageCollection
Scotney Castle, Kent
NT 790895
Summary
A mahogany, ebonised and painted writing or library table, attributed to Marsh and Tatham, circa 1810. The tooled leather inset top above a carved Greek-key frieze containing three drawers to each side and with brass lion mask mounts to each corner, standing on reeded tapering legs headed with anthemion capitals and terminating in brass castors, one lock stamped S.MORDAN & Co. LONDON and PATENT below a crown.
Full description
In 1798, Thomas Tatham entered into a partnership with the Prince of Wales' cabinet maker William Marsh of Mount Street for the furnishing of the Royal Palaces. From 1803-11, the firm was known as Marsh & Tatham and from 1811-18 Tatham, Bailey & Saunders until the death of Tatham. The firm was one of the most important suppliers of furniture and furnishings to the Prince of Wales, supplying a great many items to Carlton House and Brighton Pavilion. Tatham's brother, the designer Charles Heathcote Tatham probably supplied design ideas to the firm. The firm is famous for supplying a number of very fine desks to wealthy clients, the most famous possibly being The Anglesey Desk for Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey (1768-1854) for Uxbridge House in Burlington Gardens circa 1812 (sold at Christie's London, 8 July 1993, Lot 125 for £1.76 million). That pedestal desk, similarly in the Grecian taste, also has Greek key mounts, although the desk supplied to Henry Baring (1776-1848) for Somerley, Hampshire (sold at Christie's London, 6 July 2000, Lot 50 for £553,750) has a leg design that relates more closely to that of the Scotney table. The firm is also well-known for the use of lion and leopard mask mounts - see also the desk at Anglesey Abbey (NT 514610).
Provenance
Part of the Hussey collection. The contents were bequeathed to the National Trust in 2006 by Mrs. Elizabeth Hussey.An invoice dated 28 January 1946 records that this desk was purchased for £135 from Sibyl Colefax and John Fowler Ltd of 39 Brook Street Mayfair.
Marks and inscriptions
On the drawer lock: S.MORDAN & Co. LONDON and PATENT below a crown.
Makers and roles
attributed to Marsh and Tatham, furniture maker