An Exhibition Quality Aesthetic Period mahogany desk designed by George Faulkner Armitage.

An Exhibition Quality Aesthetic Period mahogany desk designed by George Faulkner Armitage. As you would expect from an architect designed piece of furniture, the attention to detail and complicated design is a hall mark of the very best furniture from this Period. The quality of timber used together with the intricate carving and fret work make this a truly unique desk. The upper section having a central secretaire section with inset red leather writing surface which is the original and an arrangement of drawers and pigeon holes, flanked by shelved supports with pierced fretwork and sunburst carved detail. The lower section having a solid mahogany top above two rectangular mahogany lined frieze drawers with aesthetic brass handles. Raised on square supports with Corinthian capitols and both reeded and fluted detail. The reverse of the desk is constructed throughout in the very best figured mahogany with ebony dowels and with a sun flower carved panel which is synonymous with this particular designer. Below are three panelled doors, two of which have enclosed shelving and a central one opening to reveal ten mahogany filing drawers. English circa 1885-1890

Dimensions: 43" wide x 47" high x 25" deep (knee hole 28" high)

One of George Faulkner Armitage most famous commissions was to remodel the front section of The Fine Art Society in 1888, many of his pieces are now in the V & A Museum. It is known that Arthur Simpson was employed in the 1880s and it is entirely possible for the carving on this piece to have been done by him. Arthur Simpson famously went on to work with Voysey and was considered the finest carver of this Period.