Lot Essay
This architect's kneehole desk is enriched with Venus's shell on its waved apron and displays characteristic Irish elongated scrolls at the top of the legs, which terminate in 'Braganza' scrolled feet. The Braganza foot was so named after Catherine of Braganza, wife of Charles II who brought furniture with similar feet from her native Portugal. It relates to a bureau, with cabinet above, at Florence Court, Co. Fermanagh, now owned by the National Trust (see J. Turner, The Dictionary of Art, vol. 16, p. 27, fig. 18 and Florence Court, National Trust Guidebook, 1992, p. 29).
A further related architects writing-table and cabinet, with similar fluted legs and Braganza feet, was sold anonymously, Sotheby's London, 16 November 1990, lot 279 (see also C. Claxton Stevens, 'Distinctive but Insular', The Antique Collector, November 1992, fig. 3 and The Knight of Glin, 'Irish Furniture at Florence Court', Apollo, April 1997, p. 19).
A further related architects writing-table and cabinet, with similar fluted legs and Braganza feet, was sold anonymously, Sotheby's London, 16 November 1990, lot 279 (see also C. Claxton Stevens, 'Distinctive but Insular', The Antique Collector, November 1992, fig. 3 and The Knight of Glin, 'Irish Furniture at Florence Court', Apollo, April 1997, p. 19).