Dreweatts 1759
Lot 166
A George I walnut and featherbanded secretaire cabinet, circa 1720, the divided domed top above a pair of arched doors, opening to two shelves above a central drawer fronted by two false drawer fronts flanked by a drawer on each side, the lower section with a secretaire fall fronted drawer, opening to an arrangement of drawers and pigeon holes, above three long graduated drawers, on shaped bracket feet, 219cm high, 109cm wide, 54cm deep For a related form secretaire cabinet see Sothebys London, 10th July 2013, Lot 25 (£18,750). See also Christie's, English Furniture, 8th July 1999, Lot 71 (£27,600) for a further related example. Condition Report: Marks, knocks, scratches and abrasions commensurate with age and use. Old splits, chips and losses. some old repairs and replacements. some old worm damage.some fading overall.The handles and escutcheons appear to be replacements but of the period. (see images) There are alternate plugged holes adjacent at each position. The two false drawers to the interior drawer of the cupboard have plugged holes from previous handles, there are now no handles present there. The lock to the fall front drawer appears to be a replacement (due to slender sliver of timber adjacent) but a fine example of period. There is a key present to operate. The same key operates the drawer locks beneath. some pins/ screws lacking from locks. some screws are later associated. The handles to the drawers of the secretaire drawer appear original. The velvet inset to the secretaire (writing surface) is later but in keeping with period style. The key is present to operate the lock of the upper cabinet doors. The feet are later associated and mahogany but of a form closely related to that which one might expect if of bracket type, The cabinet may have been on bun feet however the holes that one might expect to the floor of the the cabinet for bun feet to engage into. There is later neatly stuck down material covering the top of the cabinet. The 'roof' has all been black painted as has the interior of the upper cupboard section. (apart from shelf fronts and drawer fronts. The rear panels of the upper cupboard section have been later replaced. Please refer to additional images for visual reference to condition. Condition Report Disclaimer
