Carved Wood Barristers Desk

Barristers Desk with clock.
Shell, carved mahogany, desk left insert — ebony from Madagascar. Interior — inlaid rosewood (secret drawers). Checker board pattern and mirror inset. Some damage.
Caryatids (sculptured female figures used as columns), brass trim and fittings, gesso, gilt, paw feet. Clock has porcelain face.
Gift of major S.H. M Byers in 1910. At one time there was a musical attachment with the inscription, “I repaired this cabinet for the Grand Marshall at the Court of Württemberg in August, Year, 1667.” Later owned by a cousin of Prince Bismarck. It is probably that the desk came from the “Old Castle” in Stuttgart, in which the ruler of the Württemberg resided in the 17th century. It was purchased by Major Byers in Constence, Germany.
Wood Furniture.