condensed discuss document expanded export feedback print share remove reset document_white enquire_white export_white report_white

Collections Online

Collections record

discuss document export feedback print share gallery-landscape xml

desk

human history
  • Other Name

    presentation desk

    Presented to Bishop Selwyn by his Auckland Admirers, 1869 (associated name)

  • Description

    large desk with inlaid wood top and drawer fronts, the desk comes apart into sixteen pieces, including top carved panel, cubby holes, desk top, left and right cabinets, drawers, back panel etc, pigeon hole rack on top, surmounted by carving incorporating bishops coat of arms, brass plaque with inscription (see inscriptions) made for Bishop Selwyn after he left New Zealand, main portion of the desk is mottled kauri, panels and moulding are totara, sixteen different woods have been used in the inlay. The pediment was carved by Anton Teutenberg of Wellesley Street. more photos are in folder F144, located in the I: drive, in the furniture folder.

    >
  • Place
    Auckland City/Auckland/New Zealand
  • Associated Place

    New Zealand

    Auckland/New Zealand

  • Accession Number
    2019.71.1
  • Accession Date
    07 Oct 2019
  • Other Id

    F144 (furniture)

    1994x1.478 (temporary accession number)

    1986.4 (Old Museum Collection No.)

  • Department

    Applied Arts and Design

desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY

Images and documents

Images

  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk, 2019.71.1, F144, © Auckland Museum CC BY
  • desk
  • desk, detail
  • desk
  • desk
  • desk, detail
  • desk, detail
  • desk, detail
  • desk, detail
  • desk
  • desk, detail
  • desk, detail
  • desk, detail
  • desk, detail
  • desk, detail
  • desk, detail

Artefact

  • Credit Line
    courtesy of the Dean of Auckland, Cathedral Of The Holy Trinity, 1986, on deposit to Auckland Museum, Tamaki Paenga Hira, 1986.4, F144
  • Public Access Text

    Cabinet maker Anton Seuffert was commissioned to make this presentation desk for Bishop George Augustus Selwyn, Bishop of New Zealand 1842-1868, after he returned to England to become the Bishop of Lichfield. The pediment was carved by Anton Teutenberg.

  • Primary Maker

     Anton Seuffert (Furniture maker)

     Anton Teutenberg (Carver)

  • Place
    Auckland City/Auckland/New Zealand
  • Date
    1869
  • Associated Notes

    desk made for Bishop Selwyn after he left New Zealand

    The desk was made for presentation to Bishop Selwyn after he left New Zealand. Made by Anton Seuffert. Main portion of desk is mottled Kauri, panels and mouldings are totora. Sixteen different woods have been used in the inlay. The pediment was carved by Mr A Teutenburg, of Wellesley St. Information from Auckland Weekly News, 20.11.1869.

    See also Daily Southern Cross, 24.11.1869. A gift from Bishop Selwyn's Auckland admirers, funded by subscription.

  • Associated Person

     Bishop George Augustus Selwyn

  • Associated Place

    New Zealand

    Auckland/New Zealand

  • Associated Date
    1869
  • Technique

    inlaid veneer

    carved

  • Period

    Victorian/Contemporary Age/European and British/art and design period

  • Signature/marks

    makers sticker on pull out tray "A.SEUFFERT/ CABINET MAKER/ TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS/ THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH/ ELLIOT STREET/ AUCKLAND/ NEW ZEALAND" Brass plaque: "This desk was presented to/ The Cathedral of Auckland/ By the children of/ Stephen John Selwyn/ Son of John Richardson Selwyn/ Bishop of Melanesia/ and Grandson of/ George Augustus Selwyn/ Bishop of New Zealand 1842-1868/ and later/ Bishop of Lichfield - England" (label)

    on brass plaque: "This desk was presented to/ The Cathedral of Auckland/ By the children of/ Stephen John Selwyn/ Son of John Richardson Selwyn/ Bishop of Melanesia/ and Grandson of/ George Augustus Selwyn/ Bishop of New Zealand 1842-1868/ and later/ Bishop of Lichfield - England" (label)

  • Media

    mottled kauri/kauri/New Zealand native wood/wood/plant material

    totara/New Zealand native wood/wood/plant material

  • Measurement Description
    height 1500 x width 1730 x depth 970 mm
  • Measurement Reading

    1500mm

    1730mm

    970mm

  • Subject Category

    presentations

  • Classification

    Desk, Kneehole

    Desk

    Storage & Display Furniture

    Furniture

    02 Furnishings

  • Last Update
    13 Jul 2023
The development of the Auckland War Memorial Museum online collection is an ongoing process; updates, new images and records are added weekly. In some cases, records have yet to be confirmed by Museum staff, and there could be mistakes or omissions in the information provided.

The gift of curiosity

With unlimited free entry to all paid exhibitions, discounted event tickets and exclusive Member-only events, a Museum Membership is the gift that keeps on giving year-round.

SEE OPTIONS FROM $60

The gift of curiosity