English Made Satinwood Adams Paint Decorated Carlton House Desk With Cubbies

Details

Description

An exquisite example of late Victorian or early Edwardian fine furniture, this 1890s Satinwood Carlton House Desk embodies the refined … Read more An exquisite example of late Victorian or early Edwardian fine furniture, this 1890s Satinwood Carlton House Desk embodies the refined elegance of the Sheraton Revival and Neoclassical styles. Crafted from highly figured satinwood—a lustrous and sought-after hardwood—this piece stands as a testament to the master cabinetmaking traditions of the period.

What is a Carlton House Desk?
The Carlton House desk is one of the most celebrated forms of antique writing furniture, named after Carlton House, the London residence of the Prince of Wales (later King George IV), for whom the original desk was supposedly designed in the late 18th century by George Hepplewhite or a similar designer.

It is easily identified by its distinctive U-shaped superstructure that runs along the back and curves around the sides of the writing surface. This raised section is ingeniously fitted with a myriad of small drawers, cupboards, and pigeonholes, providing discrete and ample storage for writing implements and correspondence. Unlike some other desk styles, the main writing surface is left clear for the user, and the entire unit often stands on elegant, slender tapered legs. The design's popularity was cemented by its inclusion in famous design guides by Thomas Sheraton and George Hepplewhite, leading to its enduring status as an icon of Regency and subsequent revival periods.

Detailed Description of This Desk
This specific late 19th-century desk is a beautiful revival of the classic design. The golden glow of the satinwood is the perfect canvas for the finely executed details, which may include delicate inlay work or hand-painted floral decorations in the manner of Angelica Kauffman or the Adams style, typical of the era's taste for Neoclassical motifs like urns, scrolls, and festoons.

The signature U-shaped superstructure boasts a fitted arrangement of small drawers and central cupboards, often topped with a delicate pierced brass gallery railing. The writing surface, likely inset with a custom-tooled leather or gilt-embossed surface, provides a luxurious and durable area for work. Below, the frieze typically houses three full-width drawers for additional storage. The desk is raised on four square tapered legs, terminating in either spade feet or, as is common for the period, original brass cup castors, making it a freestanding piece suitable for placement in the center of an elegant drawing room, library, or study.

This antique satinwood desk is a functional piece of art, perfectly capturing the sophistication and intricate craftsmanship of the late Victorian and Edwardian age. It is an exceptional acquisition for any serious collector of English revival furniture. See less