Mid 19th Century Amboyna & Brass Mounted Davenport

Mid 19th century amboyna & brass mounted davenport. The gilt brass gallery surmounted to the top opens to reveal a boxwood interior that contains divisions and a pen holder. The writing fall is lined with the original green leather and tooled with broken gilt tooling. The fall is hinged and opens to reveal a boxwood lined interior space. The fall acts as a lock for the top so that the whole top writing section can be locked by locking the writing fall. The top is mounted with the original gilt brass 'egg & dart' moulding above an amboyna inlaid frieze that is finished off with a gilt beading. The top is fixed and sits above an arched ledge, thus allowing the sitter the space to pull in and 'hither' write. The uprights that support the top ledge are decorated with horizontal beading and flank a large boxwood strung amboyna panel. The davenport is free-standing and is beautifully finished to the reverse with gilt beaded and boxwood strung fielded panels to the sides. The right hand side consists of a hinged door that opens to reveal four boxwood fronted drawers that are full length in construction and finely made in mahogany, with the top drawer retaining the original makers metallic label. The drawers retain the original ebonised handles with a faux door to the left hand side. The davenport is raised on a gilt brass beaded plinth with round corners to the front above solid ring turned bun feet that terminate on the original gilt brass castors. My reason for this acquisition was based on the rarity of the material and the outstanding quality, in my opinion, of 'A museum quality piece of English antique furniture that has been made by T.H. Filmer and Sons of London.' Lit: Filmer, H. & Thomas Henry; Filmer & Son; Filmer, E. Berners Street and Charles Street, London; cabinet makers and upholsterers (fl.1835-1883): Recorded at 34 Berners Street in 1835 & 1837 (H. & T. Filmer) and in 1839 (T. H. Filmer). The 1845 London Post Office Directory listed Thomas Henry Filmer as an upholsterer at 28 Berners Street. A walnut teapoy, c. 1845, bears a label reading ‘T.H. FILMER’S CABINET, CHAIR, UPHOLSTERY BEDDING & CARPET MANUFACTORY 32 BERNERS St. OXFORD St.’ (illus. Gilbert (1996), fig. 351). Succeeded by Filmer & Son who exhibited a large fauteuil at the Paris Universal Exhibition, 1867 (illus. Symonds & Whineray, Victorian Furniture (1962,) fig. 282). The piece was constructed to be easily divided into a sofa and four easy chairs. A writer in the Art Journal Catalogue of the Exhibition stated ‘the plan is most ingenious, simple, and of manifest utility’. In 1871 Filmer, Thomas Henry & Son were at 31, 32, 34 & 35 Berners Street [1871 London Post Office Directory], and in 1877 Filmer & Son were working as cabinet makers in Berners Street [The Furniture Gazette Directory, 1877]. In 1882 Thomas Henry Filmer & Son were working as upholsterers at 31 & 32 Berners Street [1882 London Post Office Trades Directory].