A VICTORIAN WALNUT 'WOOTON' DESK, BY T. SIMPSON & SON OF HALIFAX, CIRCA 1870 the gilt-tooled leather lined hinged and ratcheted top above a swing-out front opening to reveal multiple drawers and pigeon holes, on castors, with maker's label 'T. SIMPSON & SON / PATENTEES / STEAM CABINET MAKERS / HALIFAX'. 78cm high, 73cm wide (closed), 59cm deep Through descent in the same family for four generations. The stock books of Thomas Simpson & Sons (1882-1954) are held by the West Yorkshire Archive Service (WYC:1422). The writing surface, with leather skiver, can be lifted at the back and set at various fixed angles. On the top of the cabinet under the top is the stamped metal maker’s plate “T Simpson and Son, Steam Cabinet Makers”. The term “Steam Cabinet Makers” refers to the steam-powered machinery used in the workshop (works). Simpsons had a significant presence in Halifax providing high-quality furniture, carpets and upholstery. This can be seen from an invoice header of 1884 (pictured). “Steam Cabinet Makers” was used by some North American furniture makers as they began to mechanise furniture making. This may also be a clue to the Simpsons of Halifax’s awareness of the Wooton Desk Manufacturing Company (1874-1890) of Indiana. The Wooton desk is described as the king of elaborate folding desks, which were self-contained offices and are much prized today. Simpson’s take on this self-contained office desk is more compact. It features: architect-style adjustable desk top with leather skiver; original brass maker's plate; brass castors; fold-out doors revealing drawers and pigeonholes for storage; turned, recessed drawer handles; original carpeted footrest. Inspection of known examples would suggest these desks were made to order with some bespoke elements - such as the choice of materials and the arrangement of internal compartments. Overall, this is an ingenious desk, a metamorphic cabinet full of storage space and tidy when unused. It’s rare, even more so than the Wooton desks.