Christopher Clarke (Antiques) Limited

An Antique Chinese Export Campaign Desk (c. 1840 China)

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Amboyna Ebonised Mahogany

Lieutenant Wilmot's Bungalow

Campaign Desk, Chinese Export
Similar in style to the Davenport also illustrated, this Chinese Export Desk is made of amboyna offset against ebonised mahogany with ivory stringing. The side boards are huang huali wood and the top has a replaced black leather skiver with simple blind tooling. The thin top drawer has a green baized slope that can be set at 3 angles or rest against the edge of the top, as shown. There is a removable tray with dividers to the right and a plain drawer to the left. There are 4 plain drawers running down each side with a cupboard to the middle, in the kneehole. Above the cupboard is another drawer which is fitted with a brass bowl and 2 cutouts to take bottles. There are runners above the bowl indicating that originally it had a sliding cover board. The mahogany to the front columns and the reeded dividers were originally ebonised and although some remains much has worn to give character. The same is true of the moulded edge to the bottom of the desk and the turned feet. The flush brass handles are fitted with steel screws. A good desk, in the distinctive style of the furniture made by the Chinese for the European market. Circa 1840.

gbp 9250.00 (Pound Sterling)