A fine and historically interesting, George III period, mahogany kneehole desk, made for H.M.S. Orion.
A 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, H.M.S. Orion was launched in 1787 and took part in all the major actions of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars under a series of distinguished captains.
In early 1797, commanded by Admiral of the Red James Saumarez, Orion joined the Mediterranean Fleet and distinguished herself at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent. She took part in the blockade of Cadiz and, in April 1798, was sent into the Mediterranean as part of a small squadron under the command of Rear-Admiral Horatio Nelson, chasing down the French fleet and eventually resulting in the Battle of the Nile.
In 1805, by now under the command of Captain (later Admiral) Edward Codrington, she took part in the Battle of Trafalgar, again distinguishing herself, forcing the surrender of two French ships and attacking the Spanish flagship Principes de Asturias.
Utilitarian in appearance, raised on turned feet, the desk has two deep drawers to each pedestal with two long drawers above. The dark green tooled leather top appears original as do the ebonised turned handles.
The middle drawer on the left hand side is stamped ‘HMS Orion’ along with ‘1804’ which could well be a date of manufacture or an inventory number.
English, c1800.
Wear commensurate with age, one or two small ‘battle scars’.
Measurements: H: 32” (81.25cm); W: 40” (101.5cm); D: 20” (61cm).