Own an original piece of art dedicated to a moment in British history. This vintage mid century antique desk has a beech frame and oak drawers, dating from the 1960's as shown on the stamp underneath the desk, which reads 'Mar1960 (crown supply emblem) ER (Elizabeth Royal) Staverton. This would have been supplied for the Crown by Staverton for Military or Civil Service use. These desks typically came from a Government office/ Public Service such as Civil Servant Offices, Schools, Railways etc. There is also a very special meaning behind this piece of furniture, and that is this desk belonged to the very captain of the Arkendale H. Barge, George Horace Thompson, famously involved in the severn railway bridge disaster, in which two barges carrying oil collided in the thick fog of an October night 1960 and sadly lives were lost. The two sunken barges can still be seen in their ruined state in the very spot that the accident happened. The railway bridge that you see painted on the side of this desk is a nod to the one that the two barges collided into, while the men battled to regain control of the vessels after the initial collision. The bridge was later demolished in 1967 and the iron girders were sold.

I have hand painted the atmospheric scene using a mixture of acrylic based paints, and using a dark grey chalk on the rest of the piece in a half dipped effect with a stippled dark wax added to add drama and also to protect. The main painting has been sealed with a matt lacquer and then finished with a layer of clear wax to offer more protection to the finish. The original leather writing top has been updated with a textured grey wallpaper which has also had a few layers of varnish to seal it, and I feel suits the piece with it's lighter colour! (The original pale brown leather is still underneath but condition very well loved hence my decision to add a fresh surface to write on!). Measurements: - Width - 122 cm. - Height - 73 cm. - Depth - 60.5.

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Standard delivery: included
Receive it by 17th - 20th May

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