The Wallace Collection

This magnificent writing table is a 19th century English copy of an 18th century French original.

The 4th Marquess of Hertford commissioned the London cabinetmaker John Webb to make this writing table, based on one made in Paris around 1715 for Maximilian II Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria (now in the Louvre).

The Marquess paid £825 - a staggering amount at the time (more than £100,000 in today's money) and, in some cases, more than collectors were paying for original pieces of furniture - and made the piece his own by replacing the Bavarian coat of arms with the Seymour-Conway family.

Senior Furniture Conservator Jürgen Huber takes a closer look at the table, examining its construction and comparing the craftsmanship of a drawer to one from the 18th century.

To find out more about the legendary French cabinetmaker André-Charles Boulle, whose work inspired this desk, follow the link in our bio.

See the table in our East Drawing Room.

Writing table, John Webb, 1854–57