English

circa 1840 - 1850

Rare mid 19th century rosewood pedestal desk attributable to Holland and Sons of London.

The desk top has recently been re-lined with a gilt tooled black leather and is crossbanded with a broad rosewood veneered edge above vertical veneered sides. The top section consists of one long and two short drawers above a bank of three graduated drawers to each pedestal. The drawers to the desk are full in length, made in mahogany, and retain the original stamped gilt brass locks and the drawer fronts retain the original solid turned rosewood knobs.

The highly figured rosewood book matched veneers are naturally very lively and light in appearance and have been used to great effect to the reverse and even to the inside of the kneehole. The desk is raised on a veneered plinth base and concealed wooded castors.

Holland and Sons (1803 – 1942) were extremely good cabinet makers and they specialised in fine quality furniture. Holland and Sons was founded in 1803 by William Holland.

Originally, they were cabinet makers and upholsterers called ‘Taprelland Holland’. In 1843 they changed their name to ‘Holland and Sons’ with William Holland in control, a relative of the well known Regency architect Henry Holland. They were based at 19 Marylebone Street, London.

Holland and Sons soon started to expand and by 1851 they employed over 350 cabinet makers. In 1852 they moved premises when they took on the prestigious firm of Thomas Dowbiggin of 23 Mount Street, who had previously made the throne for Victoria’s Coronation. Holland and Sons worked successfully not only as furniture makers but also as undertakers and became responsible for the Duke of Wellington’s funeral.

William Holland had the firm expanding at a rapid rate and became so well known, they became cabinetmakers and upholsters to the Queen. Their first commission was for Osborne House, Queen Victoria's house on the Isle of Wight, in 1845, supplying furniture in the Queen’s favourite design, ‘Louis XVI style’ from France. They continued to supply furniture for Osborne House and gained further commissions for Windsor Castle, Balmoral and Marlborough House. Holland and Sons also worked for many leading institutions such as the reform Club (we have also supplied the reform club with our antique furniture in the past), the British Museum and the new Houses of Parliament. They were part of many of the important international exhibitions including London in 1862, Vienna in 1873, Paris in 1867 and 1872. They gained worldwide fame for their magnificent designs and quality cabinet-making throughout the Victorian era. Holland and Sons stayed as a family run business, but sadly closed in 1942.

Dimensions

Height 77.50cm (30.51 inches)

Width 129.00cm (50.79 inches)

Depth 69.00cm (27.17 inches)

Stock No: 11361