An escritoire or writing cabinet, of figured walnut, the lower section with drawers, the upper section with a mirrored door, opening to reveal and bank of drawers and pigeonholes.

An escritoire or writing cabinet, veneered in figured walnut on a carcase of oak, the lower section with drawers, the upper section with a mirrored door opening to reveal a bank of small drawers and pigeonholes.
The escritoire is raised on low bracket feet. The lower part consists of four wide drawers, the lower three graduated in depth, the uppermost one deeper and fitted for writing. The main drawers are fitted with brass bail handles set against single shaped backplates, the shaped keyhole escutcheons echoing the shape of the backplates. The front of the top drawer drops down on hinges and pulls out to reveal a writing surface covered in green baize in front of an array of ten pigeonholes and five shallow drawers.
The upper part of the escritoire takes the form of a cupboard, with a single, large panel of mirror glass. Inside, the upper part is fitted with sixtiers of drawers and pigeonholes. From the top, these comprise one tier with a trio of drawers, one with two drawers, a tier of nine pigeonholes, a tier of two drawers, a single wide drawer and a final tier with two almost square drawer fronts to the sides, with two shallow drawers set between. These drawers are also veneered in highly figures walnut and set with single brass bail handles, each with two circular backplates.

Bequest of V.B. Crowther-Benyon F.S.A

This came to the Museum as part of a bequest by Mr V.B. Crowther-Benyon F.S.A. (See Registered File 52/1176 on Nominal File MA/1/C3396). The Museum nos. for the bequest of furniture run from W.14 to W. 23-1952. He also bequeathed paintings, miniatures and other items, including a beadwork basket to the Museum. The correspondence suggests that all the items had been inherited by Mr Crowther-Benyon.

In 1968 this writing cabinet was on loan to Marble Hill House, Twickenham

By the end of the seventeenth century, special cabinets for writing had become highly fashionable items of furniture. They were generally called escritoires; later in the eighteenth century they were known as bureaus. These pieces of furniture were generally of very high quality and fitted with multiple compartments, to serve as home offices. The design of this one is very restrained but the choice of figured veneers give it a sense of luxury. It was in the early eighteenth century that the original drop-front design gave way to upper cupboards that were often fitted with mirrored panels, to increase the light from windows or candles for the user.

W.18:1 to 22-1952