Lot Essay
Approximately fifteen pieces are known to have been created by this unnamed carver, including a matching high chest-of-drawers (sold Sotheby's, New York, February 2, 1980, Lot 1654), another high chest-of-drawers now in the collection of the de Young Museum, San Francisco, and a dressing table sold in these Rooms on May 28, 1987, Lot 198; this table has nearly identical acanthus carved knees and a similar shell carved drawer, but differs in the treatment of the skirt embellishment using a scallop shell rather than the trailing tendrils and cabochon motif seen on the present example.