Relevant categories: Desks
At Canonbury Antiques we carry a range of antique pedestal desks in various woods and styles.
A pedestal desk is a free-standing desk which has two pedestals on which the main writing surface will rest allowing for a space for a knee hole opening in which the user can sit - which is why these desks are sometimes referred to as knee hole desks. Some of the older desks may have a panel behind the knee hole opening to hide the legs and knees from anyone standing in front - this can sometimes be referred to as a modesty panel.
(Above photo - This antique pedestal desk is in yew wood )
The antique pedestal desk was particularly popular in England in the 18th and 19th Centuries due to its compact and practical nature, whilst the French stayed faithful to the bureau plat or classic writing table. The great thing about these desks is that they are easy to move around as the top will come off from the two side pedestals hence making it quite easy to move around and transport. Plus there is a lot of storage space as the top will usually have three drawers and there will be additional drawers on the side pedestals. A more elaborate version will have drawers on both sides of the pedestals and top so that two people can use the desk and sit opposite each other - hence the term partners desk. These would have originally been popular in law firms and solicitors offices allowing the partners to sit opposite each other and hence we get the term. A partners desk will normally be a bit bigger to accommodate two bodies.
(Above photo - Antique George II knee hole desk )
We have a range of antique pedestal desks in various woods and styles, including Victorian, Regency and in walnut and mahogany. The classic era for these desks was the Georgian hence the George II style pedestal desk is very popular and can accentuate that opochs thirst for all things classical in design, included fluted columns and a clean angularity to the design. Thomas Chippendale gives designs for such tables, which were generally used in libraries, as writing tables in The Gentleman and Cabinet-Makers Director (1753–4 and 1762).
(Above photo - Note the modesty panel to the back of this antique desk)
Many of these antique pedestal desks are on display in our Canonbury Antiques Hertfordshire showroom so please get in touch for an appointment so you can view these desks for yourself. Nothing beats sitting at one of these desks to try it out for comfort and style before you make your investment. We find our clients particularly like the pedestal desk for more modern contemporary living due to their space saving nature, they are quite small and can be easily moved around and situated in city apartments and lofts.
(Above photo - Nice walnut finish to this knee hole desk)
If you cant find the right antique pedestal desk for you amongst our range please let us know and we can do our best to source you the right item due to our large range of contacts up and down the country and across the continent. Our Canonbury Antiques Hertfordshire showroom is open to the public and only 25 minutes north of London in the leafy Herts countryside. We also have a whole range of other desks available to view, including Presidents desks, Carlton House, art deco, antique, bureau plats and French desks and versions in mahogany, walnut and yew wood.
Please enjoy some videos of these knee hole desks from the Canonbury Antiques YouTube channel:
Antique Yew Wood George II Kne...
Chippendale Pedestal Desk Knee...
George III Mahogany Knee Hole ...
Regency Walnut Knee Hole Pedes...
French antique coffee tables exude a timeless charm and sophistication, bringing a touch of Parisian elegance to any space.
In the world of woodworking, two exquisite techniques stand out for their intricate patterns and attention to detail – marquetry and parquetry.
In the world of furniture, few pieces evoke the same sense of charm and history as antique side tables.