Antique 19th C. English Victorian Hobbs Kneehole Cylider Roll Writing Bureau Desk

Description

Antique 19th Century Hobbs & Co London kneehole cylider writing desk. Made of oak featuring seven drawers with roll top that opens to multiple compartments and cubbies, three more drawers, leather top slope and writing sufaces with upper gallery.

Alfred Charles Hobbs (1812 – 1891) was born in Boston in America. He became a salesman for one of America’s foremost lock manufacturers – Jones & Newell in 1840. He travelled to London for the 1851 Great Exhibition and caused a storm when he managed to pick both a Bramah lock and also the famous Chubb detector lock.

As a result of his newfound fame, he formed a company in London which was formally registered as Hobbs & Co. The firm went through various incarnations becoming Hobbs, Ashley & Co in 1855 and then Hobbs, Ashley & Fortescue and finally Hobbs, Hart & Co in 1860 based in Cheapside in London.

In 1860 Alfred returned to America after the death of his partner Ashley. He had never intended to stay in Britain, so was happy to sell the thriving firm on to John Mathias Hart, whilst maintaining a beneficial interest in it.

Condition

Good antique condition, wear and distressing commensurate with age and use, bowing to writing surface, staining to leather.

Dimensions

44" x 19" x 43.25"h, kneehole 14.75" x 24", writing surface 30", depth of surface 17"