Writing table. Walnut with arabesque marquetry. Rectangular with folding top. The exterior veneered with burr walnut within feather-banding border. The interior with walnut inlaid with panels of 'seaweed' marquetry edged with triple banding. English, 1680-1700

Writing table. Walnut with arabesque marquetry. Rectangular with folding top. The exterior veneered with burr walnut within feather-banding border. The interior with walnut inlaid with panels of 'seaweed' marquetry edged with triple banding. The borders decorated with an overlapping leaf design in shaded marquetry. Supported on four octagonal baluster legs of solid walnut connected by stretchers, the folding flap by two swinging gate-legs of corresponding design. Ball feet. The frieze is inlaid at the front only with two large and two small panels of 'seaweed' marquetry. A drawer with oak lining (dovetailed, grained front to back) and turned knob handles at each end.

Modifications
Both gates are notably rickety. One baluster visibly warped. Small missing sections of veneer on one gate and the front (left side spandrel and right side, along the top of the gate). Some patches to the burr walnut veneer.

Given by Brigadier W. E. Clark CMG, DSO through Art Fund

Writing Table, gift of Brig. Clark through the NACF, 26 June 1959

Notes from R.P. 59/2200

8/6/59 Letter from Clark
offers the V & A three items, among them "A walnut writing table with folding top, decorated with seaweed marquetry…date circa 1700 - the top is 3' x 1' closed and 3'2' open - height 2'6" closed. Six octagonal legs. Illustrated Plate XIV in "Old English Walnut and Lacquer Furniture" by R W Symonds 1923". Formerly in the possession of Sir William Plu(e)nder.

Gift Form
Listed as "card table - - walnut. English, late 17th century".

Object sampling carried out by Jo Darrah, V&A Science; drawer/slide reference 1/39.

Dept file note from JH '67:
'I do not believe this table was made in the 17th century. Compare the marquetry on V&A clock case W50-1940. The general form and patterning is almost identical. Even to the overlapping of the surrounds to the marquetry panels as well as the leaf strip mouldings. This table came from Malletts. See Mallet photos. (back view A2187 1107), (open - A 21 7 P 1108). Another table of similar form and its top decorated with seaweed marquetry of similar form to the inside of this table was also in the possession of Mallett K 17490.

A writing table with sloping desk superstructure, and with apparently similar marquetry, was sold from the collection of Sir John Ramsden Bt, Christie's 23 May 1932, lot 93. Illustration on departmental file.

Emerging in the 1690s, the writing table with a folding-top is a design that was favoured by the nobility. The faceted, hexagonal baluster legs suggest that the table is of a later date, more typical of the period after 1700. The use of flat veneered stretchers is also a design feature of early veneered walnut furniture. The two-dimensional and highly stylised 'seaweed' or arabesque marquetry is one of the most recognisable traits of the 'William and Mary' style. Though likely to be more elaborate than this V&A example, three tables of similar design - with pillar legs, a swing-out gate, small drawers at each end, and marquetry - were supplied by Gerrit Jensen for Queen Mary's use at Kensington Palace (see Adam Bowett, p. 213, Plate 7:35 and 7:38).

The top opens forwards to rest on the two middle pillars, which swing out on supporting gates. The table would have stood closed and against a wall when not in use. The drawers would likely have held papers and other writing utensils. In later examples of desk-tables, the forward-hinged gateleg frame is replaced by the invention of sliding lopers concealed within the carcase, as the gateleg proves difficult to use and wasteful of space.

W.15:2-1959