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Thomas Jeckyll attr, made by William Walker and Sons.
A rare Anglo-Japanese octagonal walnut partner desk with an unusual upper cabinet and lower drawer section to the centre, straddling the leather writing area and dividing the desk into two opposite workplaces. The raised upper cabinet display area is surrounded by a Japanese fretwork gallery with curled finials to each corner reminiscent of early Japanese furniture and further curved finials on the lower drawers to each side, with incised tramline detailing to the edges and shaped aprons below. The deep octagonal desktop has a molded edge and retains the original brown embossed leather writing area with four opposing generous sized drawers below, alternating with blind panels, each carved with Japanese style cloud decoration to the centres including to the upper drawers. The four legs with deep molded Japanese decoration are united by Japanese fretwork stretchers that are centred with flat fretted Japanese corner supports surrounding a central square upright support. All stood on the original brass and ceramic castors.
The Anglo-Japanese style and the design of this compact functional partners desk combine to create a unique hybrid example of English Anglo-Japanese style from the latter part of the late Victorian Aesthetic period.
“Thomas Jeckyll designed some of the earliest surviving furniture inspired in decoration if not in form- by interest in Japan"
(Cooper p. 138).
The design and decoration on this desk share many of Jeckyll’s design details he featured on the cast iron and bronze fireplaces and fenders he designed for Barnard, Bishop and Barnard's including furniture he designed for ‘Alecco’ Ionides for his home at 1 Holland Park, London in circa 1875.
An Anglo-Japanese bedroom suite in a similar style to the partners desk that Jeckyll possibly designed for Gillow & Co in 1881, which was purchased by W H Tate of Tate and Lyle, after Jeckyll's death
William Walker & Sons 1835-c.1890 was recorded as upholsterers in 1851 They had moved by 1871 to 119 Bunhill Row and had expanded their business by 1877 when listed as art furniture & cabinet makers [London Post Office Directory, 1871; The Furniture Gazette Directory, 1877].
They participated in several late 19th-century domestic and international exhibitions:
1873 Vienna World Exhibition: '
1875 Exhibition of Ancient and Modern Furniture:
1878 Paris Exhibition:
1879 Sydney Exhibition and the 1880 Melbourne Exhibition.
Additional measurements:
Table top - 87cm
