MAITLAND-SMITH desk, 1940s-50s.
Wood covered in embossed leather and bronze handles.
Signature plaque on the first drawer.
The leather is damaged.
Measurements: 78 x 69 x 35 cm (open); 78 x 48 x 38 cm (closed).
The American luxury furniture firm Maitland-Smith produces unique and exquisite pieces characterised by a modern design which, nevertheless, has its roots in the decorative arts of the 17th and 18th centuries. This time we are presented with a desk with a wooden core covered in leather, raised on four curved legs and with a baroque-inspired mixtilinear pediment. The main body, with four drawers (narrower as they get higher), supports a folding desk with multiple drawers. The entire structure of the cabinet is outlined by gilt embossing and has bronze handles.
Over the years, the firm has elegantly combined the tradition of English furniture from those centuries with styles, materials and methods from many different parts of the world. In its production, techniques such as eggshell, the use of leather, etc., as well as traditional hand-carved wood, are particularly noteworthy.