Featured Age of Mosley's Revolving Inkwells

That is an adorable desk!!

What are those two pull-out leaves on the sides for?

 

Thanks! I've only seen one other desk with pull-outs and they were supporting candlesticks. But with the heavily embossed leather on these, I'm thinking perhaps something more showy, like flower vases? No marks at all on these, so hard to guess a specific purpose!

 

I love antique desks because they're made so artistically. Modern desks are just a plank of wood on top of a pair of empty fuel drums.

 

It is a stunner and would have cost a lot when new, 1850 is about right, before 1840 the top would have slid forward instead of a desk like structure where your knees could fit under the slope like yours. I wouldn't be surprised if it were by Gillow, it's top quality, the pull outs either side (rare to have 2, normally only one) were space for other papers while you were using the slope to write.
Locks are a very good place to date antique furniture, the records showed the maker of my davenport not being at that address until 1821 but the lock stamp said not after 1799, years later I find out that the records were wrong "Pieces of furniture bearing the distinctive stamp range in date over the years c.1780 to c.1840" in other words even the "experts" and record keepers get it wrong, now finally I can date mine because of the lock stamp.
These desks are a very good buy ATM, they are going for a tenth of what they were 20 years ago. If I had the space I would buy a barn full, I suspect these will rise in price many fold in the coming years.

 

Thanks again for those details @808 raver ! The craftsmanship on this desk is truly amazing to me; as an example, all the drawers (3 little ones inside, and the 4 down the right side) slide in and out flawlessly and fit perfectly flush to the frame, even after 170+ years.

Well that makes perfect sense about the pull-outs, to just extend the workspace. That's an interesting comment about current prices; they do seem to range all over the place, with some very good buys if you take the time to weed through what's out there. Very hard to find decent original desks here in the US, many are repros.