Walnut Kidney Shaped Library Desk by Julius Koenigsberger

AN IMPOSING WALNUT KIDNEY SHAPED LIBRARY DESK BY JULIUS KOENIGSBERGER OF POSEN LATER POZNAM

Germany first quarter of the 20th century

Maker’s metal label attached to the interior of a cupboard door

This immensely practical piece would be equally at home in the Chairman’s office, a country house study or a library. Exceptionally well constructed of straight grained walnut, the charcoal leather top above four panels to each oval incorporating four cupboards and flanking four banks of four drawers. There are also four concealed slides in the frieze and four panelled sides to the kneehole.  The use of simple vertical and horizontal ebonised reeded mouldings to relieve the austerity of the panel decoration, the simple inset brass handles and lock plates both on the drawers and the cupboards, together with the geometric balance achieved by the continuous application of the number four would suggest that an architect was involved in the design of this piece.  

Although we have been unable to uncover any record of the cabinet maker, we speculate that this magnificent desk would have been a major commission for this workshop. 

Measurements : Width 87”(221 cms) depth 31 ½”(80 cms) height 31”(79 cms)

This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

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