William IV, c1830, oversized slope-top Rosewood Davenport De...

Hammer

€29,000

William IV, c1830, oversized slope-top Rosewood Davenport Desk,
Attributed to Gillows of Lancaster.  
With Provenance to Oscar Wilde.

This high quality oversized slope-top Davenport desk is crafted in richly figured rosewood and attributed to the celebrated firm of Gillows of Lancaster. The desk is fitted with a roll-forward upper writing section that elegantly glides outward when in use, with a generous working surface and satinwood lined interior. The desk has a retractable and pivoted rear section sleeve drawer, designed to hold inkwells: it can be pulled outward and then hinged forward beside the desk for convenient access while writing.
The writing slope retains its original Moroccan leather surface—albeit heavily worn, deeply patinated, and richly evocative of long and meaningful use.
Structurally, the desk contains four functioning drawers to each side. Within one of these drawers is an inscription in ink, reading:
‘FROM M. MENPES, 1938, OSCAR WILDE'S WRITING DESK’.
To the underside of a smaller drawer in the top section is a more personal dedication, inscribed:
‘This desk, A gift from my dear friend – MORTIMER MENPES godfather of Vyvyan Beresford Holland 1938, Lin? – it being his father's desk. OSCAR WILDE. Library C.A.L.’

Height 33 1/2"  (85cms) 
Width 38" (97cms) 
Depth 22" (56cms) 

This historic piece stood in Wilde’s study (or ‘den’ - as referred to, in a Newspaper Article c. 1890, which briefly describes the layout of the house) at 16 Tite Street, Chelsea, and is believed to have been the desk at which he wrote during his most prolific period. It was removed from the house shortly before the court-ordered auction of Wilde’s possessions, held “by order of the High Sheriff” following his trial and imprisonment in 1895. Along with a French bed once belonging to Wilde’s mother (also in this sale), the desk was rescued from Wilde’s London home, by Mortimer Menpes, the noted artist and close associate of Wilde.
The auction catalogue of the contents of 16 Tite Street offers a stark and telling glimpse into the aftermath of Wilde’s fall, revealing that the house had been largely purged of its furnishings prior to cataloguing. Many rooms are listed with little or no furniture, a silent testament to the efforts of Wilde’s loyal friends—such as Mortimer Menpes—to quietly remove treasured items before they could be sold under the order of the High Sheriff. This indicates, that Wilde’s friends not only offered him financial support during his decline, but also quietly removed and safeguarded personal possessions of value—acts of discretion and loyalty intended to preserve what they could from public sale.
The catalogue presents a striking contrast to earlier descriptions of the house, which depict it as overflowing with objects and richly furnished. The collection ultimately offered for sale consisted largely of books, china, pictures, etc., among which was Lot 122: "An etching of a Lady, by Menpes, after W. Graham Robertson..."— a reminder of the long standing friendship between Wilde and Menpes. The presence of Lot 171, an antique mahogany writing table formerly owned by historian Thomas Carlyle (catalogue entry: AN ANTIQUE MAHOGANY WRITING TABLE, with 2 flaps, rising slope, and draw-out desk, formerly the property of Thomas Carlyle, the Historian), alongside newer items in the sale, suggests that the collection was a blend of both antique and more contemporary pieces—highlighting how an 1830s Davenport desk would have fit comfortably within the overall assemblage. Note: the entry for Lot 171, the Carlyle desk, is notably more detailed than most others in the catalogue, which offer only minimal descriptions or scant information about the items listed.
After assisting Wilde financially during his difficult years, Mortimer Menpes took possession of the desk—transforming it from Wilde’s personal writing surface into a cherished item within Menpes’s own collection. Menpes installed the desk (and bed) first at his London address, 25 Cadogan Gardens, and later at his country home, Iris Court, Pangbourne, Berkshire. It remained there, in his private collection until his death in 1938. The dedications within the desk affirm not only its provenance but the enduring personal ties between Wilde and Menpes. Menpes was godfather to Wilde’s son, Vyvyan Beresford Holland, born 1886, (after John Ruskin, declined the offer, declaring that, at age 67, he was too old, to take on such responsibility), and clearly considered this desk a treasured heirloom.Imposing in scale, rich in literary and aesthetic history, and distinguished by its mechanical ingenuity, this desk represents a unique convergence of fine furniture craftsmanship and cultural legacy—an exceptional relic of one of the most celebrated figures in literary history.

Provenance: By direct descent to the present vendor.

Mr. Edmund Joyce 2025

More Information

Please see additional images
Height 33 1/2" (85cms)
Width 38" (97cms)
Depth 22" (56cms)
Structure good
Slide mechanism working
Wear and loss to original leather on writing slope, some pieces in drawer
Original handles
And castors
A fine quality piece with magnificent provenance