A GEORGE III ORMOLU-MOUNTED MAHOGANY AND SATINWOOD 'WEEKS' SECRETAIRE DRESSING-CABINET

细节

A GEORGE III ORMOLU-MOUNTED MAHOGANY AND SATINWOOD 'WEEKS' SECRETAIRE DRESSING-CABINET
ATTRIBUTED TO GEORGE SIMSON

Crossbanded overall and inlaid with ebony and boxwood lines, the scrolled acanthus-carved pediment supporting a circular drum enclosing a clock with circular glazed enamelled dial with Roman chaptering, the downswept sides surmounted by later ring-turned urn-finials, the breakfront upper section with a central arched glazed door flanked by two lozenge-trellis glazed doors, each with two adjustable shelves divided by pilaster strips, the eared rectangular base section with lozenge and rectangular envelope parquetry top above an ormolu-bound frieze enclosing a secrétaire-drawer with red leather-lined writing-surface and five burr-yew and satinwood-veneered cedar-lined drawers, above a further mahogany satinwood-lined drawer with numerous fitted and lidded compartments, the lower pair of doors with Greek-key fret panelled angles, the corners with engaged three-quarter reeded columns with double foliate capitals flanked by similarly panelled sides, on turned tapering foliate toupie feet, restorations, the later movement stamped FABRIQUE DE PARIS MEDAILLE D'ARGENT 1889, the fitted dressing drawer now lacking its mirror, one drawer stamped 12127, the base section previously fitted with an organ, the handles plated, restorations, the backboards partially replaced
39¼in. (99.5cm.) wide; 93½in. (238cm.) high; 23¾in. (60.5cm.) deep

出版

C. Gilbert, 'Some Weeks cabinets re-considered', The Connoisseur, May 1971, pp. 13-21

拍品专文

This 'Lady's secretary and bookcase', comprising a column-flanked commode with dressing secretaire drawers and a Palladian-arched cabinet with vase-capped pilasters and clock, belongs to a group of cabinets associated with the workshops display-museum established by Thomas Weeks (d. 1834) in Tichbourne Street in the late 1790s. Thomas Sheraton's Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Drawing Book, 1793, pl. 21, illustrated this form of secretary and bookcase cabinet with lozenged-compartment glazing, while his Drawing Book Appendix of 1804, pl. 64 also illustrated a 1794 engraving for a related cabinet. This group of cabinets is attributed to George Simson (d. 1839), who established his cabinet-workshops in St. Paul's churchyard in 1787 and opened a Piccadilly warehouse in Dover Street in 1793. A subscriber to both Sheraton's Drawing-Book and Cabinet- Dictionary, the presence of his label on a corresponding secretaire permits the attribution of this group (G. Beard, The Dictionary of English Furniture Makers, Leeds, 1986, p. 23). One, from Weeks' automota-museum is now in the City Museum and Art Gallery, Birmingham (R. Fastnedge, Sheraton Furniture, London, 1962, fig. 75). Another, with clock-motivated barrel-organ has printed scales inscribed Thos. Weeks, Tichbourne Street and Weeks Museum Tichbourne Street (C. Gilbert, op. cit., p.23).