DESKS  roll-top
A rather fine oak roll-top desk in which something of Eastlake’s preaching on Gothic reformed furniture has taken effect. Note the panelled sides, the incised line decoration on the drawers and the carved trefoil motif on the slope frame. Undoubtedly intended for use by some professional of ‘reformed’ leanings. c. 1875
An oak roll-top pedestal desk with panelled sides shown open to reveal a generously complex fit-up of pigeon holes, small drawers and letter racks inside. There are four drawers in each pedestal and a pull-out shelf at either side. 1900-1920
An oak roll-top desk similar to the previous example but with a simpler inside fit-up, no foot rail and not panelled at the back. 1900-1920
An oak roll-top desk with a wooden top gallery intended as a bookshelf and fitted with metal drawer handles. The inside has a relatively simple fit-up of two drawers, pigeon holes and ink wells. There is a foot rail and the back is panelled. The piece is on castors. 1900-1920
A half-pedestal oak roll-top desk with metal drawer handles based on the previous model in design.
An oak roll-top desk with ring handles to the drawers. It has a solid frieze around the bottom but is mounted on castors. Quite a complex fit-up to the interior but not as desirable as the example shown in No. 334.
DESKS  Wootton Patent Office (Wells Fargo)
This form has become a category almost to itself, with a ready market in the USA, from which it originates. Usually made in American walnut with figured panels in more desirable versions, but also found in mahogany.
The genre originates from around 1870 and appears in a variety of designs of single- or double-opening typeswith more or less complicated interiors. Really complex large decorative versions are highly sought after and price is affected accordingly. Often referred to, loosely, as a `Wells Fargo’ desk by those fond of watching TV.
A good quality walnut Wootton Patent Office desk of the doubledoored type, shown closed. Note the fielded panels with ebonised moulding, the figured woods and the highly-carved top shelf. There are letter boxes
fitted in the doors so that correspondence can be delivered to the owner while he is away and the piece is locked up. c. 1870
Another Wootton desk, this time shown with the doors open to illustrate the quantity and variety of pigeon holes and drawers in the piece. The writing surface, which conceals more fitments, is shown in the `up’
position, i.e. closed. The top is not carved like the previous example and the wood is mahogany.
Another Wootton desk, this time of the single-opening door type, but with panels and drawers veneered with decorative burr walnut. Although the single-door is not always as convenient as the double-door and tends to off-balance the piece, this version has a complex and attractive interior.
A large double-door version with elaborate interior and carved top similar to 339, shown closed. A handsome piece. c. 1880

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DESKS: BUREAUX ON STANDS
About 1670-1760
A development of the medieval slope-top box which in the late 17thC was increasingly mounted on a stand, either fixed or as a separate entity. Its hinged flap slopes when closed, forming a flat writing-surface with a knee space below when open. The interior is fitted with small drawers and pigeon-holes for storing writing accessories, papers, and so on.
Largely superseded by the bureau proper (with the base as a chest of drawers) around 1690.
Oak, to about 1690: Separate box with fall supported on square lopers when opened, pulling out from frieze of table-like stand. Sometimes frieze drawer between lopers. Legs of stand turned, with turned or straight horizontal stretchers close to ground. Box slightly overhanging stand.
Early walnut, about 1680-1700: Usually as one piece, with one or two layers of drawers below. Sometimes a shaped apron. Square lopers, either with drawer between, or a blank, fronting ‘well’ accessible from inside by sliding back rear portion of flat interior surface. Sometimes there is an exterior book-rest moulding on fall. Supported on turned tapering legs, often with inverted cup knees; bun feet. Flat and scrolling X-stretchers with central turned finial.
Walnut, about 1700-1715: Usually separate stand with desk sitting within border moulding. Often shaped apron; cabriole legs with pad feet. A type much used as a basis for ‘Queen Anne’ reproductions after 1900, though these have deeper (and sometimes more numerous) drawers. Rare.
Mahogany, about 1725-1760: Separate desk and stand as above. cabriole legs with pad, later claw and ball, feet. Occasionally straight legs after- 1750. Lopers rectangular, of  equal height to drawer(s) between. Rare.
All have plain flat top flush with sides, never-overlapping. Generally a piece of velvet or coarser cloth is glued to a portion of the writing-surface.
Oak, walnut, mahogany. Pine for carcases when veneered, with oak for drawer linings.
Mostly veneered on carcase with through-dovetails. Lapped dovetails after 1700 if solid timber employed; double-lapped at top to disguise join. Mortise-and-tenon joints on framing of stand. Mouldings glued. For drawer con-struction see CHESTS OF DRAWERS.
Decorative veneers and cross-banding on walnut. Occasionally seaweed or floral marquetry. Sometimes carving on frieze and legs of stand when mahogany.
Handles: Drop on oak; small brass knobs, later bails, on walnut. Bails on mahogany.
Decorative surface-mounted escutcheons are seen on all parts until about 1750, replaced on drawers only by skeleton escutcheons around 1750.
Sometimes stain on oak and mahogany; varnish on walnut (to fill grain); both followed by wax polish.
VALUES
No common objects; prices always high, at least in four figures, but reduced by about 60 per cent if stand is wrong. Marquetry, particularly seaweed, definitely a bonus.

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