William IV Writing Table With Carved Giltwood And Ivory Paintwork

A rare William IV period kidney shaped writing table with carved giltwood decoration and white paintwork: the writing table's leathered top crossbanded in satinwood and with a carved gadrooned edge above a frieze composed of scrolling acanthus leaves on an ivory ground; raised on handsome, scrolling end supports united by a fluted and acanthus carved stretcher. The writing table has two frieze drawers at opposing ends of the frieze.

The writing table is in excellent condition and retains the majority of its original white paintwork and gilding.

Provenance

The writing table's sophisticated design suggests that it was made by one of the leading cabinet-makers of early Nineteenth Century London. The carved giltwood decoration on an ivory ground is typical of pieces designed in the highly fashionable Italianate manner and is similar to pieces supplied by Morant to the Duke of Sutherland for Stafford House, St. James's.

George Morant's firm supplied various members of the Royal family including a State Bed for Queen Adelaide in 1838. Amongst other distinguished clients were the Marquess of Londonderry and the Duke of Sutherland at Stafford House. The Duke of Sutherland was famous for his superb art collection and the redevelopment of his London home, now called Lancaster House. The Duke commissioned a sequence of gilt and white rooms as the centre piece of his redevelopment and Morant was among the cabinet-makers who supplied furniture.

A related centre table with satinwood, carved giltwood and white paintwork stamped G. I. Morant, 91 New Bond St. was illustrated in the Grovesnor House Antiques Fair Handbook, 2000, pg. 146 by Stair and Company.

Literature

Grosvenor House Antiques Fair Handbook, 2000 pg. 146