W43 Arts & Crafts Writing Desk

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Price: $9,188.97 USD  - Currency Converter Shipping inside United Kingdom: Quoted at time of purchase Shipping outside United Kingdom: Quoted at time of purchase

Description: A superb example of an inlaid late Victorian Arts & Crafts writing desk in oak, by the renowned firm Shapland & Petter of Barnstaple. This serpentine fronted piece is marquetry decorated with stylised sprays of Honesty blossom and exhibits numerous Arts & Crafts characteristics:FEATURES:Original glazed and ornately applied copper leaded panel to the backOriginal applied copper drop handles to the serpentine fronted single drawerOriginal, maker-stamped, heart-shaped back plates to the twin handles, in applied copper Original brass lever lock to the drawer, stamped 'SP&B' (with working key)Original recessed steel castors to the moulded plinthsOriginal marquetry inlay used to extensively decorate the front and gallery elevationsThree-quarter moulded and shaped ledged gallery superstructureGood quality replacement tooled light green leather, inset to the writing surfaceHand-cut dovetail joints to the drawerOak linings to the drawer, with brass keyhole liner to the lockBlind fretwork panels to the upper outer face of both side elevations, above open shelves Pedestals raised on plinth bases, with recessed wheeled castorsMoulded stretchers uniting the openwork end supportsStamped Registered Design number to the plain polished rear elevation (R1496 82)Handle back-plates stamped on the reverse with Rd 355072 (a design registered by Loach & Clark of Effington in Birmingham, in April 1900).DIMENSIONS:Width = 43" (109cm). Depth = 24" (61cm)Maximum height = 43" (109cm)Kneehole width (measured between pedestals) = 31" (79cm)Sitting or kneehole height (floor to the bottom of the frieze) = 24" (61cm)Writing surface height from floor = 30" (76cm)Frieze drawer width (internal) = 29" (74cm)Frieze drawer internal depth (front to back) = 20" (51cm)Frieze drawer height = 3" (7.5cm).A restored and conserved desk identical in design to W43 but originally made in white painted oak is held by the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon. The photo of the white desk has been reproduced here by kind permission of the museum, which also holds other archive material relating to Shapland & Petter, along with a small display of other S&P furniture.This desk design is illustrated in an original Shapland & Petter 'Catalogue of Drawings' (p.67) held in the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon archives; listed under 'Drawing Room Writing Tables'. The design is described as a 3' 6" inlaid desk, which would be made with the option of the pilasters being 'fretcut when not inlaid'.For more information about the 150 years of Shapland & Petter history, see 'Shapland & Petter Ltd of Barnstaple - Arts & Crafts Furniture' by Daryl Bennett - (ISBN No. 0 9550316 0 5). Bennett devotes a whole chapter to collecting Shapland & Petter furniture (pp 115-128) and comments that most Shapland & Petter pieces are "recognised and highly prized by collectors" (p115).For more details and photos for this desk, visit

Status: For Sale	Reference#: s32000i1722
Condition: n/a	Year: unknown
Country: UNITED KINGDOM
Title: W43 Arts & Crafts Writing Desk

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