We don’t have an image of this object online yet. V&A Images may have a photograph that we can’t show online, but it may be possible to supply one to you. Email us at vaimages@vam.ac.uk for guidance about fees and timescales, quoting the accession number: 365:1 to 3-1864
Find out about our images

Not currently on display at the V&A

Writing Desk

ca. 1600-50 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Writing desk with two drawers, veneered on all the show surfaces with ivory, ebony and another orange tropical hardwood, depicting moresques, and individual hunters, animals and roundels.

Writing desk with sloping, fixed top constructed of oak with glued and pegged joints. It contains a full-width shallow drawer, opening at the front, and a wedge-shaped drawer opening at the right side. The drawers of dovetailed construction with (South American cedar) bottoms and sides (and a softwood divider), the bottoms glued up. It appears that a lock has been removed from both drawers, and filled. The bottom shows no sign of feet, and was painted black (now worn).

All the show surfaces are veneered with ebony and ivory(?), with a banding of an orange (originally red) tropical hardwood. The sloping top has a design of large scrolls surrounding a central roundel with Moresques, among which are inlaid individual motifs (in engraved ivory) of 3 hunters, a lion rampant, hares and rabbits, birds, a monkey. Sixteen ivory roundels surround the main panel, and 8 rectilinear panels containing moresques form a wide border. The low front panels, ends and back with moresques, roundels and stringing.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Writing Desk
Materials and techniques
Oak with veneer of ivory, ebony and another tropical hardwood, the drawers of cedar
Brief description


ebony, inlaid ivory arabesques; Italian, c.1600

ebony, inlaid ivory arabesques; S. German?, c. 1600-1650
Physical description
Writing desk with two drawers, veneered on all the show surfaces with ivory, ebony and another orange tropical hardwood, depicting moresques, and individual hunters, animals and roundels.

Writing desk with sloping, fixed top constructed of oak with glued and pegged joints. It contains a full-width shallow drawer, opening at the front, and a wedge-shaped drawer opening at the right side. The drawers of dovetailed construction with (South American cedar) bottoms and sides (and a softwood divider), the bottoms glued up. It appears that a lock has been removed from both drawers, and filled. The bottom shows no sign of feet, and was painted black (now worn).

All the show surfaces are veneered with ebony and ivory(?), with a banding of an orange (originally red) tropical hardwood. The sloping top has a design of large scrolls surrounding a central roundel with Moresques, among which are inlaid individual motifs (in engraved ivory) of 3 hunters, a lion rampant, hares and rabbits, birds, a monkey. Sixteen ivory roundels surround the main panel, and 8 rectilinear panels containing moresques form a wide border. The low front panels, ends and back with moresques, roundels and stringing.
Dimensions
  • Height: 12cm
  • Width: 47.2cm
  • Depth: 41cm
veneers approx. 1mm thick
Object history
Bought for £12. 0. 0 from Schmidt, Paris; see J.C. Robinson's report no.7274, 20 April 1864: "Writing desk in ebony inlaid with incised ivory. The ornamentation consisting of strapwork arabesques ornaments, animals and figures in hunting costume. Italian circa 1600
Length 18 1/2" width 16 1/2"
Purchased in Paris of Schmidt - price [text missing]"

The use of Central/South American cedar (identified visually by Adam Bowett) for the drawers is surprising but not impossible for a date c.1600. The replacement softwood drawer divider perhaps at least suggests that the drawers were not entirely reconstructed shortly before acquisition.

It is possible that neither drawer was fitted with a lock, suggesting that they were concealed, but as the desk was evidently meant to be portable, the drawers would have fallen open if not secured, and there is now no evidence of a concealed catch. As the sloping top is not hinged, it is fairly obvious that it must incorporate at least one drawer, so concealed drawers would not have been a very effective security device on this piece.

The relatively simple construction and the quality of the figural motifs suggests that this piece was not of the highest quality.
Historical context
During the 15th century a well-appointed study would have contained a built-in desk unit. Around 1500 a new type of portable writing-desk that could be placed on any available table, became popular. It was of Spanish-Moorish origin, and consisted of a shallow desk with sloping lid for writing on (or resting a text for reading), which contained drawers and compartments for pens, inks, papers and seals. Its size and smooth bottom meant that it was ideal for travellers. Only very grand ones are fitted with feet, which would have been impractical for most travellers. It is clear from Erasmus' fundamental Latin handbook of manners and civility for schoolchildren that the contents of such desks were not just personal, but private. Renaissance images of scholars and ecclesiastics often show them in the act of writing at a sloping writing-desk. Most 16th and 17th century desks were probably neat but plain, while those that have survived tend to be elaborately decorated with veneers inlay or carving.

Adapted from Dora Thornton, The Scholar in his study
Production
Augsburg?
Collection
Accession number
365:1 to 3-1864

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 5, 2009
Record URL
Download as: JSON