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Desk
Unknown - Enlarge image
Desk
- Place of origin:
London, England (possibly, made)
Paris, France (possibly, made) - Date:
1800-1820 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Unknown (production)
- Materials and Techniques:
Oak, pine and mahogany veneered with plain mahogany and 'plum pudding' mahogany; gilt bronze mounts, painted porcelain and Carrara marble
- Credit Line:
Bequeathed by John Jones
- Museum number:
1098:1 to 5-1882
- Gallery location:
In Storage
In 1882 John Jones, a keen collector of French decorative arts from the period 1700-1800, left his collection to the Museum. Many pieces were magnificent, but the study of French furniture was just beginning, and some of his pieces have since proved to be later copies or versions. Our current opinion of this desk is that it started life between 1800 and 1820 as a much simpler piece (without the porcelain plaques). It was probably veneered all over with the dappled mahogany that is now seen everywhere except the doors. This form of marking is colloquially known as 'plum pudding' mahogany and was very fashionable at the beginning of the 19th century. We think that the circular plaques were added between about 1860 and 1880, in imitation of the Sèvres porcelain plaques that were used on furniture in the 1780s. These plaques have in fact been made from old plates, but the original decoration has been removed with acid, and this floral decoration added.
