A WILLIAM AND MARY WALNUT BUREAU-ON-STAND

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THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN

Details

A WILLIAM AND MARY WALNUT BUREAU-ON-STAND
The featherbanded hinged slope supported by the gateleg base and enclosing a fitted interior with six small drawers, two pigeon-holes and a hinged well with three secret drawers, above a plain frieze, on turned baluster legs joined by stretchers, on turned feet, the left-hand side of the frieze reveneered, two interior drawers and the handles replaced, lacking one secret drawer
34¾ in. (88 cm.) high; 38¾ in. (98.5 cm.) wide; 18½ in. (47 cm.) deep

Provenance

Sir Patrick Hastings, K.C. (d. 1952).
S.W. Wolsey, London.
Bought by Mrs Eileen Joseph, later Lady Joseph, and by descent.

Literature

R.W. Symonds, The Present State of Old English Furniture, London, 1927, fig. 44 (Collection of Patrick Hastings, Esq. K.C.).

Exhibited

London, Royal Academy, The Age of Charles II, 1960, no. 138.
London, Victoria & Albert Museum, C.I.N.O.A. Third International Art Treasures Exhibition, 2 March-29 April 1962, no. 71, pl. 46.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

This early form of bureau was known in contemporary inventories and bills as a 'Desk writing Table', several of which were supplied by Gerrit Jensen to William III and Queen Mary's various Royal palaces. They combined the standard slope-topped box or desk and a writing-table. A similar marquetry example was offered anonymously, Christie's New York, 12 April 1996, lot 77 (A. Bowett, English Furniture 1660-1714: From Charles II to Queen Anne, Woodbridge, 2002, p. 215, pl. 7:39).

Sir Patrick Hastings, K.C. (d. 1952) was Attorney-Gereral from 1924 and besides a career as a leading barrister, was the author of several plays such as The River, 1925, Escort, 1942 and The Blind Goddess, 1947.

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