Desk by Holland & Sons London

a fine quality gentlemans library cylinder writing desk made by the firm of Holland & Sons (1803–1942) they became from 1843 one of the largest and most successful cabinet makers in london, and became a rival to Gillows of Lancaster and maples The company's labelled and receipted Day books are now housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum Archive of Art and Design where they present a virtual 'who's who' of nineteenth century society Established in 1803 by Stephen Taprell and William Holland, a relation of the architect Henry Holland (architect). Always on the leading edge of fashion, Holland & Sons employed some of England's foremost designers and participated in all of the International Exhibitions of 1851, 1855, 1862, 1867, 1872 and 1878. Holland and Sons also participated in many of the leading international exhibitions including London in 1862, Vienna in 1873 and Paris in 1867 and 1872. After a brief period in which the company was known as Taprell, Holland & Son c.1835-43, William Holland gained sole command after the senior partner Taprell's retirement. From 1843 onwards they were known as Holland and Sons. The relationship between builder and cabinet maker is similar to another leading Victorian firm, Trollope and Sons. Their earliest known commission was to furnish the Athenaeum Club, London, 1824- 1838. They also worked alongside the prestigious firm of Thomas Dowbiggin at Osborne House, and eventually took over their premises and business at 23 Mount Street, London in 1851 and 1853 respectively. In 1851, when the company was based in Mount Street and employed 351 people, they won a prize at the Great Exhibition for a bookcase. By then, after being granted a Royal Warrant of Appointment (United Kingdom) early in the reign of Queen Victoria, they had already taken a leading part in the decoration and furnishing of Osborne House, Sandringham House, Balmoral Castle, Windsor Castle and the apartments of the Prince and Princess of Wales at Marlborough House, executing numerous exceptional pieces of furniture. Holland and Sons also executed over three hundred separate commissions for the British Government, including the Palace of Westminster, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and oversaw the State funeral of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. One of their celebrated private commissions was a suite of bedroom furniture for the late Sir Harold Augustus Wernher, 3rd Baronet at Luton Hoo. During the latter half of the 19th century, Holland and Sons also supplied furniture for such notable London clubs as the Reform Club and the Oxford and Cambridge Club. Along with Gillows they shared the commission for the new Palace of Westminster.................. The escritoire on offer is firmly attributed to holland and sons,constructed from the finest procured cuban feathered plum pudding mahogany.the design of this desk is based on a model made by jean henri- riesener(1734-1806) in 1769 for stanislas-leczinski ,and a directoire french period simular desk by bernard- molitor.(1733-1811)now in the getty museum.the cylindre top is surrmounted with an ornate three quatered gilt metal hand chiseled ormolu frett-worked frieze,the cylindre opens to reveal a bank of draws with pigeon hole compartments,and fitted with a sliding pull out writing extension slide,the writing surface is covered in the finest quality green tooled english leather panels,with matching side sliding pull out reading panels,all below a large single draw flanked by two pairs of smaller draws all fitted with there original gilt ormolu cast drop handles,all the locks fitted are in working order and with keys,the fitted brass original locks were made and are stamped by the famous london locksmith comyn ching and company,at this time all the best furniture makers in london used there products.there is a large knee hole appiture below the cylindre top,the whole raised on elegant round tapering fluted legs with ormolu gilt decorations applied,terminating on spun ormolu sabots with brass castors of tastefull proportions..