Benjamin Disraeli’s Victorian Lap Desk

Benjamin Disraeli’s Victorian Lap Desk Circa 1860

This exceptional Victorian lap desk was owned by Benjamin Disraeli (1804–1881), one of Britain’s most influential statesmen and twice Prime Minister. Exceptionally large and lavishly appointed, it is a remarkable example of the luxurious furnishings befitting a man of Disraeli’s stature. Its richly figured coromandel veneer, elaborate ormolu mounts and impressive scale reflect the extraordinary level of craftsmanship and expense lavished on the finest Victorian writing desks.

The Gothic-inspired exterior is richly ornamented with elaborate gilt-bronze ormolu mounts, while the interior is fitted in satinwood and incorporates a sloped writing surface, inkwells, document compartments and trays, a thermometer and secret drawers. Crafted by J. Southcombe of Jermyn Street, London, the desk is fitted with a Bramah lock, produced by London’s oldest security firm and renowned for its exceptionally secure, tamper-resistant designs. These ingenious fittings, together with its sumptuous materials and impressive scale, make it an especially remarkable example of the Victorian writing slope.

Disraeli was a towering figure of 19th-century British political life. A novelist as well as a statesman, he served as Prime Minister twice, championed the development of modern Conservatism and played a significant role in the expansion of the British Empire. He was also a particular favorite of Queen Victoria, who elevated him to the peerage as Earl of Beaconsfield. The Gothic character of this writing slope is especially fitting for Disraeli, whose country residence, Hughenden Manor in Buckinghamshire, underwent extensive renovations in the Gothic Revival style during the 1860s.

A writing slope such as this served as the Victorian era’s portable writing desk, allowing its owner to compose correspondence and manage documents while traveling. Sometimes described as the “first laptop,” these finely crafted boxes were designed for both practicality and security, with fitted compartments, locks and, in exceptional examples, concealed drawers and secret compartments. Given its remarkable size, sophisticated fittings and luxurious ornament, this example represents the finest level of Victorian craftsmanship and would have been an extraordinarily costly object when new.

11 1/2" high x 20 3/4" wide x 14 1/4" deep

Provenance:
Benjamin Disraeli, Hughenden Manor, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
M.S. Rau, New Orleans