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Lot Essay
According to the note attached to this lot the novelist Graham Greene wrote the first part his novel The Man Within whilst sitting at this secretaire, when it was owned by Charles Henry Greene, the grandfather of Janet Landau.
This piece possibly relates to examples by George Simson and based on an example bearing his label and illustrated in C. Gilbert, Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700-1840, Leeds, 1996, p. 422, fig. 840. The labelled piece is after a design in Thomas Sheraton's Cabinet-maker and Upholsterer's Drawing-Book, London, 1895, pl. 64.
George Simson is recorded at 19 St. Paul's Churchyard from 1780-1839 (G. Beard, Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840, Leeds, 1986, p.817). In 1793 he subscribed to Thomas Sheraton's Drawing-Book and in 1803 was included in the list of master cabinet-makers in the Cabinet Director (G. Beard, op.cit., p. 817). Many pieces bearing his label feature fine figured timbers such as sabicu and satinwood.
This piece possibly relates to examples by George Simson and based on an example bearing his label and illustrated in C. Gilbert, Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700-1840, Leeds, 1996, p. 422, fig. 840. The labelled piece is after a design in Thomas Sheraton's Cabinet-maker and Upholsterer's Drawing-Book, London, 1895, pl. 64.
George Simson is recorded at 19 St. Paul's Churchyard from 1780-1839 (G. Beard, Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840, Leeds, 1986, p.817). In 1793 he subscribed to Thomas Sheraton's Drawing-Book and in 1803 was included in the list of master cabinet-makers in the Cabinet Director (G. Beard, op.cit., p. 817). Many pieces bearing his label feature fine figured timbers such as sabicu and satinwood.