Secretaire Writing Table

Chippendale, Haig & Co.
c.1776
Mahogany, oak, ebony, brass, and bone
Height: 37",
Width: 45.5",
Depth: 20.5"
139F

Description

This neat writing table with useful deep secretaire drawer is an innovative form probably adapted from Plate no. 51 in Thomas Chippendale’s Director of 1754. Like most of the Paxton furniture, it is a high-quality piece made from the finest mahogany, subtly enriched with ebony stringing.

Ninian Home’s profession is reflected by the relatively large number of writing pieces at Paxton, even found in the bedrooms, where this table was probably placed after commission. Writing furniture can be found in the bedrooms of plantation houses of east coast America and the Caribbean.

We know it was used by George Home, as when this piece was conserved with funding from Museums Galleries Scotland in 2018, one of George’s letters was discovered in the back of the secretaire drawer dating from 1790.

This piece of furniture was conserved in 2022 with funding from Museums Galleries Scotland.

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