A GEORGE III MAHOGANY BUREAU-BOOKCASE
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VA… Read more THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN 
A GEORGE III MAHOGANY BUREAU-BOOKCASE

Details
A GEORGE III MAHOGANY BUREAU-BOOKCASE
The broken cornice above a pair of geometrically-glazed and mirrored panelled doors, each enclosing three adjustable slides, the lower section with a hinged slope enclosing a fitted interior with eight- variously-sized mahogany-lined small drawers and four pigeon-holes flanking a central cupboard with a drawer, above two short and two long graduated drawers, on chamfered shaped bracket feet, inscribed in chalk to the reverse 'M.K. 936 1', the handles original, the side mouldings replaced
98 in. (249 cm.) high; 51 in. (129.5 cm.) wide; 24 in. (61 cm.) deep
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

The existence of mirrors on glazed bureau-bookcases of this date is somewhat unusual. However, the presence of small mirrored ovals on the famous 'violin' bookcase now at Wilton House, Salisbury, Wiltshire and almost certainly supplied by Thomas Chippendale for Henry Herbert, 10th Earl of Pembroke (d. 1794), between 1763-1773, suggests that the central oval panel was possibly originally fitted with a mirror (C. Gilbert, The Life and Work of Thomas Chippendale, London, 1978, vol. II, fig. 66). A further example with a mirrored door exists at Aske Hall, Yorkshire, and was possibly the one invoiced by Thomas Chippendale in 1764 and described as 'a Mahogany Chest of drawers with a Desk drawer and bookcase with a Scrol Pediment top and Looking Glass £26' (Gilbert, ibid., vol. II, fig. 87).

More from Important English Furniture

View All
View All