Sworders
Lot 255
An extraordinary George II cocuswod bureau bookcase, c.1730, the delicate cavetto cornice over a pair of mirrored doors with bevelled plates, opening to reveal a large central cupboard flanked by pigeon holes, three small drawers and an adjustable shelf over candle slides. The bureau interior with drawers and pigeon holes over two short and three long graduated drawers with moulded edges, original brass handles, batwing back plates and bracket feet, 110cm wide, 57.5cm deep, 219cm high. Cocus wood (Brya ebenus), also called granadillo and Jamaica ebony, was imported from the West Indies from the mid 17th century onwards. It is produced by a small tree, rarely more than 8" (20cm.) in diameter and, when fresh, has a deep chocolate-brown heart with a yellow sapwood. It fades quickly to the muted colours seen on the present lot, and until recently was generally mistaken for laburnum. It was typically a turner`s wood, much used for the manufacture of clarinets and other wind instruments, including for the chanters of Scottish bagpipes. In the late 17th century cocus was commonly employed for `oyster` veneered cabinets, tables and other furniture. It was less favoured by 18th century furniture makers, but Pembroke tables, card tables, bureaux and desks of cocus are known to survive. These are generally veneered, as in the present case, with narrow longitudinally cut veneers arranged to create a striking visual effect.
