A German walnut and ebonised desk, early 20th century, by Vereinigte Werkstatten, with bead mouldings throughout, the top with rail gallery to the rear and with green and gilt tooled leather inset above a frieze drawer and flanking moulded cupboard doors, one enclosing a shelf, the other an arrangement of three slides, the reeded sides and back with central further mouldings, all on acanthus carved tapering legs, the underside of the kneehole stamped V.W. for the workshop and serial numbered 3183, 84cm high, 172cm wide, 82cm deep Catalogue Note: Inspired by the British Arts and Crafts Movement, the Vereinigte Werkstatten fur Kunst in Handwerk (United Workshops for Art in Craft) was established in Munich in 1898. It expanded rapidly, producing not only furniture but also all other items for the home, including wallpaper, textiles and lighting. Notable designers associated with the workshops were Hermann Obrist, Richard Riemerschmid, Bruno Paul, and Peter Behrens. It moved to Bremen in 1910, where Rudolf Alexander Schroder was a significant designer for the workshops and where, particularly from the 1920s, the production of furniture and fittings for ocean liners became a major feature of the company. Condition Report: Marks, knocks, scratches, abrasions consistent with age and use, Cleaned and polished overall, Some rubbing and wear to the ebonised elements, The inset possibly original, there are some small marks and some larger indentations to the top Overall solid and stable Condition Report Disclaimer