Writing Table Collection

Scribe copying manuscripts in the Middle Ages
Medieval scribe writing at a desk, surrounded by open manuscripts. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

The Queen's Visit to Leeds - Ormolu Writing Table Suite for Her Majesty, 1858. Creator: Unknown
The Queen's Visit to Leeds - Ormolu Writing Table Suite for Her Majesty, 1858. On the occasion of the Queen's late visit to Leeds a writing-table

Woman writing, 1870-1937. Creator: Willem Wenckebach
Woman writing, 1870-1937. A woman is writing at a desk in a study. The desk is littered with sheets of paper and there are also loose sheets on the floor

Writing or Sewing Table, c. 1936. Creator: Frank Wenger
Writing or Sewing Table, c. 1936

Writing or Sewing Table, 1936. Creator: Frank Wenger
Writing or Sewing Table, 1936

Art of Writing, from Encyclopédie, 1760. Creator: A. J. Defehrt
Art of Writing, from Encyclopedie, 1760

Marble Vase, the Chantrey Pedestal, Ariosto's Inkstand, Addison's Writing-Table, and Washington's Coffee-Pot, from the Rogers Collection, 1856....the Chantrey Pedestal...is of mahogany

Ladies work table for the drawing room or boudoir, 1811
6339959 Ladies work table for the drawing room or boudoir, 1811 by British School, (18th-19th century); (add.info.: Ladies work table for the drawing room or boudoir, 1811)

Metamorphic sofa writing table and Trafalgar chair, 1811
6339926 Metamorphic sofa writing table and Trafalgar chair, 1811 by British School, (18th-19th century); (add.info.: Metamorphic sofa writing table and Trafalgar chair, 1811)

Blue Shell (Aogai), from the series "Five Colors (Goshiki no uchi)", c. 1820
Blue Shell (Aogai), from the series " Five Colors (Goshiki no uchi)", c. 1820

Man in Thatched Hut Viewing the Moon, c. 1740s. Creator: Nishimura Shigenaga
Man in Thatched Hut Viewing the Moon, c. 1740s

The Transmission Scene (Denjuba), from the series " Sugawaras Secrets (Sugawara denju)", c. 1830/44

The Fourth Month (Shi gatsu), from the series "Fashionable Twelve Months... c.1793
The Fourth Month (Shi gatsu), from the series " Fashionable Twelve Months (Furyu junikagetsu)", c. 1793

The Second Month (Ni gatsu), from the series "Fashionable Twelve Months
The Second Month (Ni gatsu), from the series " Fashionable Twelve Months (Furyu junikagetsu)", c. 1793

Prosperity: Ding Gu (Roku, Teiko), from an untitled series of happiness, prosperity, and longevity, c. 1824

The Ottoman Scribe (w / c on paper)
BON131980 The Ottoman Scribe (w/c on paper) by Dominici, Antonio de (c.1730-c.1800); 36.2x25.5 cm; Private Collection; Photo eBonhams, London, UK; Italian, out of copyright

Interior with furniture designed by Ruhlmann, from a collection of prints published in 4
STC230277 Interior with furniture designed by Ruhlmann, from a collection of prints published in 4 volumes by Albert Levy, c.1924-26 (pochoir print) by Ruhlmann

Writing desk, c. 1860 (walnut)
3084394 Writing desk, c.1860 (walnut) by English School, (19th century); 94x59x59 cm; The Geffrye Museum of the Home, London, UK; (add.info.: A walnut Davenport with a fretted A gallery to the top)

Sir Walter Scott Centenary (engraving)
1057373 Sir Walter Scott Centenary (engraving) by Justyne, Percy William (1812-83); Private Collection; (add.info.: Sir Walter Scott Centenary)

Louis XV ormolu-mounted tortoiseshell and ebony bureau plat
CH360587 Louis XV ormolu-mounted tortoiseshell and ebony bureau plat, second quarter of 18th century (ormolu, brass inlay, tortoiseshell and ebony) (see also 360586) by French School

Louis XIV ormolu-mounted brown tortoiseshell bureau plat, c
CH360582 Louis XIV ormolu-mounted brown tortoiseshell bureau plat, c.1710 (ormolu, brass inlay, tortoiseshell and leather) (see also 360583) by Boulle, Andre Charles (1642-1732) (attr)

Augustini Baker, frontispiece from Holy Wisdom, printed in 1634 (engraving)
TPG290440 Augustini Baker, frontispiece from Holy Wisdom, printed in 1634 (engraving) by English School, (17th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Vera effigies R)

A George III Carlton House Desk, c. 1800 (wood)
PAR220146 A George III Carlton House Desk, c.1800 (wood) by English School, (19th century); 106.7x157.5x87.6 cm; Private Collection; ePartridge Fine Arts, London, UK; English, out of copyright

Condemned Cell, Newgate, illustration from The Criminal Prisons of London
STC386223 Condemned Cell, Newgate, illustration from The Criminal Prisons of London and Scenes from Prison Life by Henry Mayhew and John Binny, pub

The Life of William Cobbett, witten by himself, published by Hannah Humphrey
2562167 The Life of William Cobbett, witten by himself, published by Hannah Humphrey, 1809 (hand-coloured engraving) by Gillray

Guilbaud Cabinet, 1693-1712 (walnut)
2972975 Guilbaud Cabinet, 1693-1712 (walnut) by English School, (17th century); The Geffrye Museum of the Home, London, UK; (add.info.: Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund)

Preparing for the Grand Attack, or a Private Rehearsal of The ci-devant Ministry in
2966830 Preparing for the Grand Attack, or a Private Rehearsal of The ci-devant Ministry in Danger, pub. 1801 (hand coloured engraving) by Gillray

Louis XV bureau-plat, ormolu candelabra and inkstand, late 18th century
BAL1644 Louis XV bureau-plat, ormolu candelabra and inkstand, late 18th century (oak veneered with kingwood) by French School, (18th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: ); French

360586

Writing Table and Toilet Ware by Mr Leuchars, London (chromolitho)
961701 Writing Table and Toilet Ware by Mr Leuchars, London (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Writing Table and Toilet Ware by Mr Leuchars, London)

Writing table and chair used by English novelist William Makepeace Thackeray at his homes in Young Street
5997544 Writing table and chair used by English novelist William Makepeace Thackeray at his homes in Young Street, Onslow Square and Palace Green, London (b/w photo) by English Photographer

Louis XIV ormolu-mounted brown tortoiseshell bureau plat, c
CH360583 Louis XIV ormolu-mounted brown tortoiseshell bureau plat, c.1710 (ormolu, brass inlay, tortoiseshell and leather) (see also 360582) by Boulle, Andre Charles (1642-1732) (attr)

Lady in an Interior
GG37815 Lady in an Interior by Jacquet, Gustave (1846-1909); Private Collection; Photo eGavin Graham Gallery, London, UK; French, out of copyright

Portrait of a Lady, possibly Sarah Harriet Burney (1772-1884) (oil on canvas)
CHW253935 Portrait of a Lady, possibly Sarah Harriet Burney (1772-1884) (oil on canvas) by Lawrence, Thomas (1769-1830) (circle of); Chawton House Library, Hampshire

Jeremy Bentham, c. 1829 (oil on canvas)
UCL281381 Jeremy Bentham, c.1829 (oil on canvas) by Pickersgill, Henry William (1782-1875); 83.8x53.3 cm; UCL Art Museum, University College London, UK; (add.info.: Bentham (1748-1832)

Henry Laurens, 1782. Creator: Valentine Green
Henry Laurens, 1782

At the Writing Table, c. 1790. Creator: Unknown
At the Writing Table, c. 1790

Two Chinese Scholars Practicing Calligraphy in Their Studio, ca. 1840. Creator: Unknown
Two Chinese Scholars Practicing Calligraphy in Their Studio, ca. 1840

Chap. XV: Ecrivons ala Vielle (Writings for the elderly), 1824
Chap. XV: Ecrivons a la Vielle (Writings for the elderly), 1824

The Family Record (Harpers Bazar, Vol. VIII), August 28, 1875. Creator: Unknown
The Family Record (Harpers Bazar, Vol. VIII), August 28, 1875

A Lady About to Write a Poem, ca. 1820. Creator: Gakutei
A Lady About to Write a Poem, ca. 1820

The Chinese Calligrapher Boying (Japanese: Hakuei; also known as the Sage of Cursive
The Chinese Calligrapher Boying (Japanese: Hakuei; also known as the " Sage of Cursive Script" ); " Inkstone" (Suzuri)

Court Lady at Her Writing Table From the Spring Rain Collection (Harusame shu), vol. 3, ca. 1820s

Chinese Lady Seated at a Table, Composing an Ode, 1835. Creator: Gakutei
Chinese Lady Seated at a Table, Composing an Ode, 1835

Marquetry Writing Table of King William III, 1938. Creator: Unknown
Marquetry Writing Table of King William III, 1938. From " The Kings Art Treasures - A Series of 40", by The Imperial Tobacco Co Ltd. [W. D. & H. O. Wills, London, 1938]

Mahogany writing table, 1906. Artist: Shirley Slocombe
Mahogany writing table, 1906. Print from A History of English Furniture, the Age of Mahogany by Percy Macquoid R.I. [T&A Constable, Edinburgh, 1906]

The Moment of Imagination, 1785
The Moment of Imagination, pub. 1785 (hand coloured engraving)

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In the Middle Ages, a writing table was an essential tool for scribes diligently copying manuscripts. The image of a devoted scribe hunched over this wooden surface, meticulously transcribing ancient texts, evokes a sense of historical reverence. Another depiction shows a woman swooning at her writing table, unaware of the threatening figure lurking behind her. This artwork captures the tension between vulnerability and creativity that can arise in solitary moments of reflection. During the 19th century, writing tables took on new forms to cater to different settings. A ladies' work table designed for drawing rooms or boudoirs exemplifies elegance and functionality combined. It provided women with a dedicated space to engage in artistic pursuits or correspondence. Metamorphic sofa writing tables emerged during this period as well. These innovative pieces transformed from seating furniture into practical surfaces for writing or working. Paired with Trafalgar chairs, these designs showcased both versatility and style. The art world also found inspiration in writing tables. "Blue Shell, " part of the series "Five Colors, " depicts an exquisite shell delicately placed on such a table around 1820. This portrayal highlights not only nature's beauty but also the significance attributed to objects displayed on these surfaces. Japanese artist Nishimura Shigenaga captured tranquility in his painting titled "Man in Thatched Hut Viewing the Moon. " Here, a humble thatched hut serves as both shelter and workspace—a simple yet profound testament to finding solace amidst nature's wonders. Writing tables were not limited to private spaces; they played roles in public scenes too. In one print from the series "Fashionable Twelve Months, " individuals gather around such tables during April (Shi gatsu) and May (Ni gatsu). These depictions illustrate how communal activities like letter-writing became fashionable social events during specific months of the year. Furthermore, prosperity is symbolized by Ding Gu (Roku Teiko), featured within an untitled series.