Writing Table thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Writing Table

ca. 1835 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This table is part of a suite of bedroom furniture made for Mamhead House, Devon, a house designed in the Tudor style by the architect Anthony Salvin for Sir Robert Newman Bt. Salvin was commissioned to produce designs in 1826 and building was completed in 1838. The furniture, although designed in the style of the 1830s, incorporated Tudor details from the 1580s, such as bosses, pendants, incised decoration based on blackwork embroidery, and strapwork, where patterns were formed of twisted and interlaced bands. This table is decorated with circular bosses around the frieze, pendants hang from the corners of the top, and pierced strapwork panels, which fill the end supports. It is designed for writing, with a leather top, two drawers in the frieze, and a padded foot rest on the stretcher.

On loan to National Trust Knightshayes Court.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 5 parts.

  • Writing Table
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Key
  • Upholstery Fragments
Materials and techniques
Oak, carved and fretted, with modern damask cover on footrest
Brief description
oak writing table, carved and pierced, with Tudor motifs, the foot-rest covered in modern damask, designed by Anthony Salvin for Mamhead and possibly made by G.J. Morant, British about 1838
Physical description
The table has a rectangular top covered in leather with two drawers side by side in the frieze. There are bosses and faceted lozenges along all four sides of the frieze with pendants at the four corners. The end supports are formed of pieced strapwork panels framed by square pillars with chamfered edges, decorated with bosses halfway down on all four sides, on moulded rectangular bases with circular ends. There is a shaped stretcher with a central foot rest, upholstered and covered with modern red damask.
Dimensions
  • Width: 123cm
  • Depth: 66cm
  • Height: 76cm
Styles
Historical context
Anthony Salvin certainly designed a hall seat and a table for Mamhead, illustrated in Jill Allibone, Anthony Salvin Pioneer of Gothic Architecture, Cambridge 1987, page 29) and could have designed other furniture for the house including this table.
Summary
This table is part of a suite of bedroom furniture made for Mamhead House, Devon, a house designed in the Tudor style by the architect Anthony Salvin for Sir Robert Newman Bt. Salvin was commissioned to produce designs in 1826 and building was completed in 1838. The furniture, although designed in the style of the 1830s, incorporated Tudor details from the 1580s, such as bosses, pendants, incised decoration based on blackwork embroidery, and strapwork, where patterns were formed of twisted and interlaced bands. This table is decorated with circular bosses around the frieze, pendants hang from the corners of the top, and pierced strapwork panels, which fill the end supports. It is designed for writing, with a leather top, two drawers in the frieze, and a padded foot rest on the stretcher.

On loan to National Trust Knightshayes Court.
Collection
Accession number
W.5:1 to 5-1973

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdMarch 3, 2005
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest