LONDON — The desk and chair Charles Dickens used while writing Great Expectations will go up for auction in June at the London auction house Christie’s.
The furniture is expected to sell for between $100,000 and $160,000.
The mahogany desk dates to the mid-19th century and bears a bronze plaque describing its appearance in Luke Filde’s drawing, ‘‘The Empty Chair.’’ The author’s oldest daughter, Mamie, wrote in her memoirs that Dickens used the walnut chair and desk the night before he died in 1870. The desk has been in the family ever since.
The money raised will go to the Great Ormond Street Hospital. Dickens spoke at the hospital’s first fundraising Festival Dinner 150 years ago and was a close friend of its founder, Charles West. Great Ormond Street Hospital is also linked to playwright J.M. Barrie, who donated his ‘‘Peter Pan’’ copyright to the hospital in 1929.
The desk and chair were on display for 40 years at Dickens House Museum in London.
AP
Christie's auction house worker Laura Castelbarco poses at a writing desk
once owned by Charles Dickens, who used it while writing
Great Expectations. (Lefteris Pitarakis~AP)
This desk and chair with wonderfull Dickens provenance, was the last desk that Dickens used. It was sold at Christies on June 4th 08 for £433,250.The buyer, Irish entrepreneur Tom Higgins was very pleased as he felt that it could have made up to £5 million. For information and details on where to see (or purchase) ....The FIRST DESK that Dickens is known to have used PLEASE Make contact with THE DORKING DESK SHOP 01306 883327.
In addition to this desk we have several other pieces that also have interesting history and provenance such as ALFRED LORD TENNYSONS Dining Table, THE EARL OF ROSEBERRYS Library Bookcase and GEORGE ELLIOTS Writing Table. e-mail dorkingdesks@aol.com
BEST WISHES Jan Elias (Mr)