Carlton House Desk

The Carlton House desk is a specific style of antique desk that was reputedly designed for the Prince of Wales in the 1790s who went on to become George IV. It was designed by George Hepplewhite and named after Carlton House, the Prince of Wales’ London residence at the time. For this reason it is also known as a Carlton House writing table.

Its distinctive characteristic is that is has a ‘U’ shape of drawers around the top of the writing table with no pigeonholes that enclose the writer, with the drawers having sloping tops and the ends of the ‘U’ shape on the left and the right.

The design drawings for this type of desk were included by Hepplewhite in his ‘Cabinet Maker and Upholsterer’s Guide’ and by Thomas Sheraton in his own ‘The Cabinet Maker and Upholsterer’s Drawing Book’ which ensured it became a popular item.