Queen Anne Walnut Kneehole Desk, 1710

A Charming Early 18th Century Walnut Queen Anne Period Kneehole Desk, Or Dressing Table, Having Superb Quarter Veneered Top, Unusually with Herringbone Inlaid Dividing Panels, Over Arrangement Of Drawers And Central Recessed Cupboard, Retaining Original Brass Handles And Escutcheons, with Further Herringbone Decoration, Raised On Original Shaped Bracket Feet.


Kneehole deeks are generally regarded as a smaller, more compact version of the more typically found pedestal desk, with some form of an arrangement of drawers around a central set recessed cupboard being the typically found form. There are of course various different designs to be found along the same theme, but as a general rule that is the form you will usually find in a georgian or earlier kneehole desk.

Although originally designed for the use which the name suggests, as a desk in a spot around the home where perhaps space doesn’t suffice for a full size, formal desk, they can of course be utilised in a whole host of different ways including perhaps in a bedroom, or dressing room, as a dressing table with a dressing table mirror placed atop of them. The recessed cupboard combined with the amount of storage available makes them absolutely perfect for this.

As a general rule with kneehole desks, the earlier in date the better and those constructed from walnut are generally regarded as much more desirable than those constructed from mahogany due to walnuts more decorative tendencies. Again though exceptions to this rule can always be found.

This particular walnut desk has clearly been made in one of the top workshops of the time. It boasts very attractive walnut veneers, which have aged most gracefully indeed and retain a lovely warm colour and patina. Also, quite unusually this kneehole desk retains its original brasswear and its original feet, which is not common for an item like this of well over 300 years old. The herringbone decoration on top is also particularly unusual in terms of the way it is laid out into 4 panels.


Circa 1710.

Height 30.25in.
Width 31.75in.
Depth 19.75in.