An imperial writing desk from the Neue Palais in Potsdam
Palisander and walnut over softwood, ormolu and brass mountings and (replaced) brown leather writing surface. Of slightly serpentine design resting on eight bracket feet. Two side compartments with two drawers each, one large central draw above the knee hole beneath an extendable writing surface. The back closed, the sides with horizontal veneer. The top surrounded by a brass moulding. All outer faces decorated with rhombus marquetry and large squares on the inside. All angles and the base accentuated by ormolu rocaille scrolls. With a label on the reverse, typewritten and inscribed in ink “Schloß N.P. Zimmer No. 12 Lfde. No. 40.” Older repairs to the brass mouldings, minor replacements to the marquetry. H 77.5, W 170, D 72 cm.
C. 1880 - 90.
Dr. Henriette Graf, curator of the Foundation of Prussian Palaces and Gardens, discovered this piece in the inventory of the Neues Palais in Potsdam accompanied by the following description: "20. <A> desk of palisander, partly veneered with upturned rectangles, Oct. 25 to the Gen. Richly decorated with bronze mouldings, fittings and handles, 4 drawers at the bottom on each side, 1 drawer in the middle and a pull-out panel covered with red cloth. 0.77 m high, 1.70 m wide, 0.72 deep. On top of it an attachment with 14 drawers, in the middle a two-door cabinet with 20 small drawers, 0.46 m high, 1.65 wide, 0.36 deep." (SPSG, Hist. inv. 719, Inventory Neues Palais 1895, p. 70, p. 135). As can be seen from the inventory, the piece was formerly fitted with an attachment with 20 small drawers that served as storage. The previous position of this attachment can still be seen in the marquetry on the top, but it is now lost. In addition to the Berlin Palace, Emperor Wilhelm II chose the New Palace in Potsdam as his preferred residence after taking office. The rooms in both palaces were furnished conservatively, as the Emperor liked to draw inspiration from the Rococo style preferred during the time of his most prominent predecessor, King Frederick II the Great. Many of the empire's small furniture manufacturers had to deliver to the court to meet the increased spatial and representational requirements of the imperial period. The demands on the pieces were high; in addition to good workmanship, they had to provide meaningful functionality despite their imposing appearance. According to Dr. Jörg Meiner, Staatliche Schlösser, Gärten und Kunstsammlungen Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (State Palaces, Gardens and Art Collections Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania), no workshop has yet been identified that could have been responsible for the execution of this desk. After almost 150 years and several changes of ownership following 1918, the piece is still in exceptionally good condition, which speaks for an origin in one of the leading German manufactories of the era.
Provenance
Potsdam, Neues Palais. From a Berlin collection, auctioned by Leo Spik Berlin on 7th December 1999, lot 1585. Private ownership, Berlin.