| The pedestal desk is an imposing piece of antique | | | | anyway. |
| furniture and started out its life in the grand libraries | | | | One exception to this rule were pieces made by |
| of the wealthy. From an example of this magnificent | | | | Robert Gillow of Lancaster who made variations on |
| antique desk, the lord of the manor would carry out | | | | Chippendale's designs and proudly stamped his firm's |
| his business and domestic affairs. | | | | name on each piece of furniture he produced, so |
| Although mainly used by men, the desk had evolved | | | | these well made pieces are easily attributed to him. |
| from a feminine piece of furniture where it was used | | | | The pedestal desk like other pieces of antique |
| as a kneehole dressing table in the early part of the | | | | furniture reflected the styles of the time. |
| 18th century. At that time it was made of walnut | | | | Chippendale-designed furniture tended to follow the |
| rather than the mahogany most common in later | | | | flowing and ornate lines of the French Rococo. He |
| examples and was decorative rather than functional. | | | | also collaborated with architect decorators, such as |
| Indeed, the central division between the two sets of | | | | Robert Adam and fine examples are still to be found |
| drawers was too narrow to place both legs | | | | in Adam-designed houses today. Much simpler |
| comfortably. | | | | designed pieces made of lighter woods became more |
| The pedestal desk as it stands today was made | | | | popular as the Rococo period moved into the much |
| larger during the middle of the 18th century and built | | | | finer lines of the neo-classical period; designers such |
| from three separate units. These were the two large | | | | as George Hepplewhite and Thomas Sheraton also |
| pedestals containing drawers either side, which were | | | | produced furniture guides as Chippendale had done. |
| joined by the flat desk top. The fashion for these | | | | The size and solidness of this particular design |
| new larger desks to be made in mahogany rather | | | | ensured its popularity with the size conscious |
| than walnut coincided with severe shortages of | | | | Victorians and this antique desk really has never gone |
| walnut during the early to middle part of the century. | | | | out of fashion, although has been sized down for |
| The popularity of this antique desk soared through its | | | | modern town house and apartment living. These |
| inclusion in Thomas Chippendale's Gentlemen and | | | | days, large period and revival examples of these |
| Cabinet-Maker's Director produced in 1754. Wealthy | | | | antique desks tend to be used more in commercial |
| gentlemen were now able to visit Chippendale's | | | | settings or solicitors' offices. |
| workshop and order the design they needed. | | | | Fine examples of period and revival antique desks |
| Chippendale's designs were extensively copied but as | | | | can be found through good UK antique furniture |
| very few pieces of furniture made by him during the | | | | dealers in Lancashire, Cumbria, Cheshire and |
| 18th century were actually signed 'Chippendale', most | | | | nationwide. |
| of these pieces are referred to as 'Chippendale' | | | | |