A George III mahogany writing table

A George III mahogany writing table, the leather inset top (perished) with a ratcheted slope to a crossbanded and moulded edge, above a central frieze drawer and arched brackets flanked by two drawers either side, repeated to the reverse and fitted brass canted swan neck handles, all with boxwood edging and flanked by arched goncalo alves panels, the square tapering legs to brass castors, 31.5in (80cm) h, 65.75in (167cm) w, 36in (91.4cm) d. Provenance: The Arundell Family, removed from New Wardour Castle, Near Tisbury, Wiltshire in 1947, and thence by descent. Wardour Castle is now a picturesque ruin originally built in the late 14th century which was passed to the Arundell family during the 15th century and subsequently destroyed by Cromwell's Army in 1644. It was not until 1776 that the 8th Baron, Henry Arundell was able to rebuild the castle. He employed the prominent Palladian architect James Paine to under take the task, who built a superb country house whilst using the old castle as an ornamental feature. New Wardour was sold by the family after the death of the last Lord Arundell - who was a prisoner of war in the notorious Colditz Castle during the Second World War - and it then became a private school. In recent years, the building has been turned into luxury apartments.