THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN (Lots 51-54)
A GEORGE I STAINED BURR-BIRCH BUREAU

IN THE MANNER OF COXED AND WOSTER

Details
A GEORGE I STAINED BURR-BIRCH BUREAU
In the manner of Coxed and Woster
Crossbanded and inlaid in kingwood and pewter, the rectangular top with a moulded back rail, above a sloping fall-front enclosing a fitted interior of ten variously-sized drawers and four pigeon-holes and a green leather-lined writing surface above a long frieze drawer above two small drawers and two long graduated drawers, the cavetto moulded base on four bun-feet, losses to moulding and veneer, restorations to veneer, lacking back bun feet, possibly originally in two parts, the top re-veneered in walnut and birch, with later back lip
40½in. (103cm.) wide; 41½in. (105.5cm.) high; 23½in. (60cm.) deep

Lot Essay

G. Coxed and T. Woster of 'The White Swan', St. Paul's Churchyard, London were famous for their combination of pewter inlay with highly-figured burr veneer. The veneer was often stained to simulate tortoiseshell or mulberry.
A bureau-cabinet bearing their makers' label is illustrated in R. Edwards and P. Macquoid, The Dictionary of English Furniture, London, rev. ed., 1954, vol. I, p. 138, fig. 33 and also in R. Edwards and M. Jourdain, Georgian Cabinet-Makers, London, rev. ed., 1946, fig. 212. The bureau has similar cross-banding, pewter-inlay and the overall proportions are very similar.
A related small bureau was sold anonymously at Sotheby's London, 12 February 1965, lot 66, and a bureau-cabinet with a very similar bureau was sold anonymously in these Rooms, 24 April 1980, lot 144.

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