Object Type
This box was almost certainly made in the court workshops of Henry VIII, who reigned from 1509 to 1547. It is lined with leather, which is painted with the heraldic badges of Henry and his first queen, Katherine of Aragon (1485-1536), and the royal coat of arms.
The exterior of the desk is covered with shagreen (possibly sharkskin) and fitted with metal-gilt angle-mounts, loop handles and ball feet, all added during the 18th century. The interior surfaces of the compartments are lined with red silk velvet, probably added during the 19th century. The writing surface and the large compartment have been relined very crudely with a crimson silk velvet, the appearance of which is considerably older than that of the red velvet.
Time
The box was probably made between 1520 and 1527. The decoration includes painted heads in the style of miniature painting, which became popular after 1520. Henry began divorce proceedings against Katherine in 1527.
Subjects Depicted
The decoration includes both late Gothic features and early Renaissance ornament. On either side of Henry's coat of arms are figures of Mars, the Roman god of war, in armour and Venus, the goddess of love and fertility, with her son Cupid. The compartment lids are painted with the head of Christ and figures of St George and the Dragon. The front has a male and a female head in profile. The falling flap bears profile heads of figures from Greek legend: Paris, prince of Troy, and Helen, the Spartan queen whom he abducted.
Ownership & Use
The history of the box is uncertain. Similar boxes were listed in inventories taken at Henry's death in 1547, but this box could have been a royal gift and might have passed out of royal ownership soon after it was made.
Physical description
Box constructed of oak and walnut, decorated with painted and gilded leather. The box has a sloping top and a double lid, the outer enclosing a shallow tray contained in the inner lid, which opens to disclose three divisions, two with lids. The fall-down front encloses three drawers, the centre one divided into partitions and those on the side fitted with sliding lids. There is a small drawer with compartments fitted at the right side. The interior is covered with leather painted and gilt. The inside of the outer lid is decorated with interlaced strapwork, enclosing the badges of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. The inner lid bears the arms of Henry VIII encircled by the Garter, and with putti blowing trumpets as supporters. On either side are figures of Mars in armour, and Venus with Cupid, each under Renaissance canopies. The lids in the interior are painted with a medallion head of Christ and Saint George and the Dragon below a canopy. The front, above the three small drawers, is decorated with a male and a female profile head and scrollwork designs; the falling flap bears profile heads of Paris and Helen, inscribed 'Paris de Troy' and 'Helen de Greci' on a ground of arabesques.
The rim below the outer lid is covered in parchment and bears the inscription in classical lettering (much rubbed): 'DEUS REGNORUM EC[CLESIAE] CHRISTIAN[A]E MAXIMUS PROTECTOR IMPERII DA SERVO TUO HENRICO OCT[AVO] REGI ANGLIAE DE HOSTE TRIUMPHUM M[AGNUM].
The exterior of the desk is covered with shagreen and fitted with metal-gilt angle-mounts, loop handles and ball feet, all added during the 18th century.
The interior surfaces of the compartments are lined with red silk velvet, probably added during the 19th century. The writing surface and the large compartment have been relined very crudely with a crimson silk velvet, the appearance of which is considerably older than that of the red velvet.
Place of Origin
London (possibly, made)
Europe (possibly, made)
Date
ca. 1525 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown
Materials and Techniques
Walnut and oak, lined with painted and gilded leather and silk velvet; later shagreen (possibly sharkskin) outer covering
Marks and inscriptions
"'DEUS REGNORUM EC[CLESIAE] CHRISTIAN[A]E MAXIMUS PROTECTOR IMPERII DA SERVO TUO HENRICO OCT[AVO] REGI ANGLIAE DE HOSTE TRIUMPHUM M[AGNUM]'" 'God of Kingdoms great Protector of the authority of the Christian Church give your servant Henry VIII King of England a great victory over his enemy' Textual information; Latin; around rim of paper tray; 1525 - 1527 [writing box]
"'Paris de Troy'" Textual information; inside front flap; 1525 -1527 [writing box]
"'Helen de Geci'" Textual information; inside front flap; 1515 - 1527 [writing box]
Dimensions
Height: 5 cm
Width: 41 cm
Depth: 27 cm
Height: 3.8 cm [drawer]
Width: 11.5 cm [drawer]
Depth: 17.8 cm [drawer]
Height: 0.4 cm [lid]
Width: 11.5 cm [lid]
Depth: 17.2 cm [lid]
Height: 3.8 cm [drawer]
Width: 11.5 cm [drawer]
Depth: 8.1 cm [drawer]
Height: 3.8 cm [drawer]
Width: 11.5 cm [drawer]
Depth: 18.2 cm [drawer]
Height: 0.4 cm [lid]
Width: 11.4 cm [lid]
Depth: 17.2 cm [lid]
Height: 0.2 cm [piece of fabric]
Width: 26.7 cm [piece of fabric]
Depth: 15.2 cm [piece of fabric]
Height: 5.7 cm [drawer]
Width: 7.1 cm [drawer]
Dimensions checked: Measured; 21/12/1998 by TH/DW
Drawer: 4 (H) x 11.5 (W) x 18 (D)
Object history note
The provenance of the box is not known. It was acquired from the collection of Mr Dunn Gardner, a prominent collector. The coat of arms of Henry VIII (reigned 1509-47) together with the heraldic badges of his first queen, Catherine of Aragon (1485-1536), suggest that it was made by the court workshops of Henry VIII before 1527, when he began proceedings for divorce from Catherine. The inclusion of painted heads imitating miniatures suggests that the box dates from after 1520 when miniature painting became popular. Similar boxes appear in the inventory taken at Henry VIII's death in 1547 but were not described in sufficent detail to make identification possible. Possibly the box was made as a royal gift, or could have been owned by Catherine of Aragon herself, and might have passed out of the Royal collection soon after it was made.
The present outer covering of of shagreen, with metal mounts, dates from the eighteenth century and indicates the historic veneration with which the desk was treated even at that time. The original exterior covering of the desk is not known but might have been velvet or leather with an outer leather travelling case.
The scarlet velvet lining the interior surfaces of the compartments was probably added in the 19th century. The surface of the tray in the outer lid and the surfaces of the large compartment have been crudely relined with crimson silk velvet.
Historical context note
This is a rare survival of luxury furniture made by the royal workshops. Such small writing-boxes were used on tables, to hold the paraphernalia associated with writing such as ink and quills, and other small items. It does not appear to have been designed for writing on, but has the characteristic sloping lid of a desk. It was not until the seventeenth century that the desk developed as a specialist form of table with drawers. The inventory taken at Henry's death in 1547 lists similar boxes or desks with their contents. For example in a closet next to the King;s Privy Chamber at Greenwich Palace were three desks covered with leather, one of which was 'furnysshed with boxes without Counters with a penne knyfe and a payer of sisorres'.
Descriptive line
Writing desk constructed of oak and walnut, decorated with painted and gilded leather. British, 1525 - 1527. The decoration painted by Lucas Hornebolte.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Wilk, Christopher (ed.) Western Furniture: 1350 to the Present Day. Philip Wilson/V&A, London, 1996, pp. 30-31.
ISBN: 1856674435 NAL Pressmark: General Collection
47.Y.1442
Summarises current knowledge, but includes Hornebolte attribution more recently thought to be unlikely.
Labels and date
TABLE DESK. Walnut, covered with gilt and painted leather, with several drawers and divisions. Decorated with the Royal Arms and the heraldic badges of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon (The Portcullis, the Todir Rose, the impaled rose and pomegranate, the Fleur-de-Lys, the Castle and Sheaf of Arrows.) The figures of Mars and Venus after Woodcuts by Hans Burgkmair (about 1510). English; about 1525. Desks of this type were among the foreign novelties introduced to Britain under the early Tudors. The shagreen-covered outer cover and meral mounts are of later date.
DESK
ENGLISH; about 1520
Oak and walnut, covered in leather with gilt and painted decoration. The shagreen outer cover and gilt brass mounts probably added in about 1700.
This desk is a unique survival of royal luxury furniture with early Renaissance ornament. It is painted with the Tudor royal arms and with badges and personal devices of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. An inscription on the inner lid asks God to grant Henry victory over his enemies. The arms are flanked by figures of Mars and Venus derived from woodcuts of the Planets by Hans Burgkmair (1473 - 1531). The painting is likely to have been executed by one of the Flemish craftsmen employed by the court.
Bought with the funds of the Murray Bequest.
This box has many trays and compartments for writing implements. Several such boxes were recorded at Greenwich Palace when Henry VIII died in 1547. The royal arms and badges of Henry and Katherine of Aragon appear among figures and motifs based on Continental designs. The figures of the Roman gods, Mars and Venus were based on woodcuts by the German artist, Hans Burgkmair I ( 1473-1531), published in 1510.
Associated names
Henry (VIII); Katherine of Aragon
Materials
Paint; Brass (alloy); Leather; Oak; Velvet; Paper; Walnut; Shagreen
Techniques
Painting (image-making); Gilding
Subjects depicted
Coats of arms; Venus; Jesus; Mars; Heraldic motifs; Paris; George (Saint); Helen
Categories
Furniture; Household objects; Royalty; Woodwork; British Galleries
Collection code
FWK
