A rare Victorian walnut desk made in Yorkshire is being offered for sale by the Ripon auction house Elstob & Elstob.
The desk is essentially a self-contained office, with an array of drawers and pigeonholes, revealed when the piece unfolds on its hinges, and is based on a style made famous by the North American Wooton Desk Manufacturing Company (1874-1890) of Indiana.
Made by renowned Halifax cabinetmakers T Simpson & Son in 1870, the ‘Wooton’ desk carries a guide price of £1,000 to £1,500 and is part of Elstob & Elstob’s online Antiques Sale that runs until Sunday, January 8.
The brass maker’s label showing the desk to have been made by T Simpson & Son of Halifax.
Auctioneer David Elstob said:
“This is an absolutely stunning piece of furniture.
“The original American Wooton desks are known as the kings of elaborate folding desks and are much-prized amongst collectors, but this rare Yorkshire version of the design will be even more sought after.”
He added:
“Overall, it is an ingenious desk, with a metamorphic cabinet full of storage space. What’s more, it is tidy when unused, making it a perfect blend for today’s modern homes.”
Thomas Simpson & Sons was one of the largest and most prestigious furniture makers in the north of England, its origins dating back as far as 1798. In its Victorian heyday, the business had a grand showroom in Silver Street in Halifax, as well as a steam cabinet works in Corporation Street, which contained the steam-powered machinery used to manufacture its trademark pieces of furniture.
A T Simpson & Son invoice header from 1884, showing the company’s various premises.
This particular desk has a gilt-tooled leather-lined hinged and ratcheted top above a swing-out front that opens to reveal multiple drawers and pigeonholes. The writing surface, with leather skiver, can be lifted at the back and set at various fixed angles. On the top of the cabinet under the lid is the stamped metal maker’s plate ‘T Simpson and Son, Steam Cabinet Makers’.
Mr Elstob said:
“Inspection of known examples would suggest these desks were made to order with some bespoke elements – such as the choice of materials and the arrangement of internal compartments.”
Bidding is now open on the sale, which contains a large range of furniture, ceramics, glassware, wines and spirits, and Chinese works of art. All items in the sale can be viewed online at www.elstobandelstob.co.uk as well as in person at the saleroom on Friday, January 6 between 10am and 4pm.
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Air pollution risks from Harrogate’s wood-burning stoves ‘cannot be ignored’
A campaigner from Harrogate says more should be done to highlight how wood-burning stoves damage the environment.
A study published on Friday found the stoves contribute to almost half of the cancer-causing air pollution particles in towns and cities.
Government data found that wood-burning stoves are the single biggest source of PM2.5 particles in the UK, three times more than transport. Breathing in the particles is known to exacerbate lung conditions, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The stoves have seen a boom in popularity over the past decade, with many people seeing them as cosy and rustic additions to their homes.
Some Harrogate district residents in older houses also find stoves and open fires an important source of heat during winter, but Harrogate man Brian McHugh believes over 90% of them are not really needed.
He said air pollution from wood-burners “can no longer be a taboo subject”.
“People have not been responding to the fact that there is a real danger here.”
Mr McHugh, who has written articles on the subject, said some people get defensive when they are told that stoves contribute to air pollution and take it as a personal affront.
He said:
“They feel it is an attack on their identity.”
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Mr McHugh said wood-burning stoves should be seen as a public health risk, similar to smoking or excessive drinking. He’d like to see Harrogate Borough Council launch a public information campaign to inform people of the risks.
He added:
“We have also restricted all sorts of consumer products in the past.
“I think the winter months are an especially good time to talk about air pollution as a while, as both outdoor and indoor air pollution tend to be worse in winter in the UK.
“Harrogate Borough Council has a range of resources and tools at their disposal to disseminate information, whether that is through email, flyers or signage.
“There are local organisations that promote a reduction in local ambient air pollution through Walk to School days and people are being informed about pollution through this direct action. A campaign to start a No Burn Day as a starting point, could be a huge breakthrough.”