18th-Century Style, Late Victorian/Edwardian Period-Made, English Antique Chinoiserie Pedestal Desk

A charming 18th-Century style, English antique lacquer-and-gold painted pedestal desk, decorated throughout in the chinoiserie manner.

What is chinoiserie? An extract from reference materials...

The fine art of chinoiserie has been in existence since the 17th century, and it depicts Chinese style designs applied to furniture, ceramics and fabrics.

Chinoiserie is wonderfully beautiful, and tends to depict realistic and fictitious animals, insects, people, foliage, structures and various other elaborate Asian designs that can be incorporated into a number of decorating themes. Antique pieces embellished with Asian-style chinoiserie and high-quality japanning are coated with baked-on layers that look very much like modern-day high-gloss enamel. Chinoiserie that has been japanned is coated with many layers of resin-based gloss and baked dry. Much polishing goes into the true technique of japanning, and high-quality pieces will appear to have deep layers of gloss with the sheen of fine marble, but true antique pieces like this will show signs of age and wear.

About this desk...

Offered for sale in original, as found, unrestored, "country house" condition.

Decorated all over in low relief with typical chinoiserie scenes. Each panel has an ebonised border, with an arrangement of three drawers over two supporting  pedestals. Each pedestal forms a cupboard. The front panel of each opens to reveal an interior void of any fittings. Supported overall on turned, ebonised bun feet.

This is a decorative, time-worn piece, that would look good in any home setting in homage to times past.

Provenance - Originally owned by the late Mrs Valerie Lillywhite, then by private purchase to a third-party antiques dealer and subsequently acquired by Holt Antiques at Walsingham Mill.

Condition - Please refer to the images. Offered for sale in un-restored, original, condition. There is well-established patination and craquelure to the lacquer surface. The top has a cigar burn which is apparent if viewed under close scrutiny. There are losses to the paint surface. The desk is structurally sound. The drawers move freely. Some of the handles are later replacements but blend in well.

Size (at its largest points) - Height 29 1/4” x Width 49” x Depth 22” (74.3 cm x 124.5 cm x 55.9 cm)