This fall-front secretaire was almost certainly produced by the London workshop of Thomas Chippendale and shares many features characteristic of Chippendale's oeuvre.

The overall form of this piece with neoclassical marquetry medallions, and with incut corners centering flowerheds features on an example supplied by Chippendale to Sir Edwin Lascelles for Harewood House, Yorkshire in 1772 (illustrated in C. Gilbert, The Life and Works of Thomas Chippendale, 1978, vol. II, p. 62, pl. 96). Another virtually identical example with urn-inlaid medallions from the collection of Lady Fry, Oare House, Wiltshire was sold Christie's London, 21 April 1966, lot 68, and again, 29 November 1984, lot 115. The Oare House piece appears in a 1795 inventory and was almost certainly supplied by Chippendale. Another similar example was sold by Sotheby's London, 16 November 1990, lot 345. The reeded tapering feet are typical of Chippendale's work and correspond to those on the 'Panshanger Cabinets' now at Firle Place, Sussex, which were supplied to Lord Melbourne in circa 1773 (C. Gilbert, op.cit., vol. II, p. 67, pl. 103).

The fall-front secretaire is based on the French secrétaire à abattant and Thomas Chippendale appears to be one of the few English cabinetmakers to have supplied this type of furniture.