A QUEEN ANNE BRASS-MOUNTED WALNUT AND BURR-ELM DOUBLE-DOMED BUREAU BOOKCASE

IN THE MANNER OF COXED AND WOSTER

细节

A QUEEN ANNE BRASS-MOUNTED WALNUT AND BURR-ELM DOUBLE-DOMED BUREAU BOOKCASE
In the manner of Coxed and Woster
The moulded double-domed cornice with three later finial pedestals above a pair of raised panelled mirrored doors with arched shaped bevelled plates centred by engraved drops, enclosing a removable fitted interior with pigeon-holes and serpentine-fronted drawers around a pair of central doors with plain interior and above a pair of candle-slides, the sides with later George II scrolled and fretted carrying-handles, the base-section with raised, moulded, hinged writing-slope enclosing a further fitted interior with green leather-lined writing-surface, pigeon-holes and drawers above a well, the frieze with three simulated drawers above two short and two long graduated drawers with further George II fretted carrying-handles to the sides, on a moulded plinth and later simulated burr-elm bun feet, restorations to the interior of the upper section
41½in. (105.5cm.) wide; 85in. (216cm.) high; 24¾in. (63cm.) deep

拍品专文

This cabinet with exotic ribbon-framed veneer of golden 'marble-wood' elm and French double-arched cornice enriched with vase-plinths, has candle-slides fitted beneath mirrored doors that are etched with jewelled fleur-de-lys. The secretaire-fall of the chest is fitted with a book-rest, which corresponds to that of an elm-veneered cabinet labelled by George Coxed and Thomas Woster (d.1736), whose partnership at 'The White Swan' in St. Paul's Churchyard was established circa 1710. It belongs to a type described as 'Buroe Chest of Drawers' and accompanied 'Scrutoires, Desks and Book-Cases' that were listed, together with 'Looking-Glasses, Large Sconces .... made up fashionable' in the trade-card advertising their London workshop (M. Harris & Sons, Old English Furniture, London, 1935, p. 40).

Such vase-finialled bureaux featured amongst patterns acquired by cabinet-makers dispatched by Peter the Great (d.1725) to London during the reigns of Queen Anne and George I (N. I. Guseva, 'Russian Cabinet Makers, Furniture History Society Journal, 1994, p. 95, figs. 1-3).

A red-japanned cabinet of the same pattern, including the etched glass and surmounted by flower-filled vases was sold anonymously at Sotheby's London, 28 February 1969, lot 91.