Antique parquetry, ormolu and leather bureau plat by Ross

Antique parquetry, ormolu and leather bureau plat by Ross
English, 19th Century
Height 76cm, width 120cm, depth 69cm
 
Made by the renowned English furniture maker Donald Ross, this desk is a demonstration of some of his finest work.
 
The desk is decorated with the iconic dotted parquetry trellis, and the centre is inset with a brown leather panel. Gold, debossed detailing adorns the border of the leather panel, its soft texture providing a smooth surface on which to write. An ormolu border frames the desk tabletop, the four edges mounted with motifs of male bearded masks among acanthus leaves.
 
Below are two lockable drawers, each one decorated in a similar manner to the desk tabletop. The pair of storage compartments are separated by a central ormolu mount cast in the form of flowing acanthus leaves and foliage garlands.
 
Four tapering legs support the desk, each one terminating in socket castors marked ‘JC’. Ross’ masterpiece is also labelled with a brass label ‘KG 8913’.
 
In the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London is a bedside table by Donald Ross of a very similar design to the desk in Mayfair Gallery’s collection. Due to the exceptionally high quality of manufacture, it was thought that the furniture piece in the V&A Museum was an example of 18th century craftsmanship, and this superb bureau plat is a demonstration of the same exceptional quality.
 
Artist/ Maker: Donald Ross