With our highest compliments and utmost honors, Bay Colony Antiques is proud to offer for sale this fantastic 18th century Mahogany writing desk / dressing table. This unusual pull out form was used primarily in Ireland & sometimes in England. There are a couple of similar examples in the Victoria & Albert collection in London & in the Colonial Williamsburg collection. The tables is aesthetically closest to a writing desk in CW’s collection (item no. 1980-152) which they have attributed to an English maker. The inset legs are nearly identical but the construction of the front face is notably different but could be from the same cabinet shop. There is a common misconception that all Irish furniture has elaborate c scrolls and carvings but they made plenty of other furniture for all occasions. We’ve handled a similar pull out table from Strahan of Dublin but work from his shop was usually stamped. The table has a serpentine form with an overhung top that mirrors the curves of the body. The serpentine drawer contains an impressive interior that can be used as a writing desk with the yellow baize surface or as a dressing table when the writing surface is flipped up and over to reveal a mirror. The mirror is supported by a hinged ratchet support and in the cavity underneath the mirror there is an additional drawer. The rest of the interior has a split configuration with 7 compartments on each side. When you remove the cover with round monocle receivers there’s a hidden cavity under the panel that can be accessed by removing the tray from the compartment to the left. The table is almost entirely Mahogany which would have been unusual in most cabinet shops but seems to have almost been a standard practice with the few of these tables that have been documented. This would have been an expensive piece of furniture and was probably owned by a wealthy Dublin family. The table measures 37” wide x 23 1/4” deep x 30” tall. When the drawer is fully extended the table measures 41 1/4” deep.
