A GEORGE III MAHOGANY BUREAU BOOKCASE, in four sections, the breakfront central section with arched cornice headed by an acanthus-scrolled cresting surmounted by an anthemion flanked by acanthus scrolls, above a glazed door with gothic quatrefoil glazing bars enclosing four shelves, the side sections each with conforming cresting above open fretwork and glazed door with geometrical glazing bars enclosing three shelves, the base with hinged flap carved with beaded oval panels enclosing a fitted interior with chequer-banding, above one long gothic-panelled drawer and two doors each with oval panels enclosing three drawers, one with secret drawer, flanking a shaped kneehole door enclosing a shelf, on later ogee bracket feet, the carrying handles replaced, the top possibly altered, probably North Country

Details
A GEORGE III MAHOGANY BUREAU BOOKCASE, in four sections, the breakfront central section with arched cornice headed by an acanthus-scrolled cresting surmounted by an anthemion flanked by acanthus scrolls, above a glazed door with gothic quatrefoil glazing bars enclosing four shelves, the side sections each with conforming cresting above open fretwork and glazed door with geometrical glazing bars enclosing three shelves, the base with hinged flap carved with beaded oval panels enclosing a fitted interior with chequer-banding, above one long gothic-panelled drawer and two doors each with oval panels enclosing three drawers, one with secret drawer, flanking a shaped kneehole door enclosing a shelf, on later ogee bracket feet, the carrying handles replaced, the top possibly altered, probably North Country
50½in. (128.5cm.) 112in. (284.5cm.) high; 28in. (71cm.) deep

Lot Essay

This pattern-book piece relates to the bureau bookcase illustrated in Thomas Chippendale, The Gentleman's and Cabinet-Maker's Director, 1754, plate LXXXIV, in which the contrasting glazing is comparable to the library bookcase illustrated in Thomas Chippendale, op.cit., 3rd Edition, 1763, plate LI. The pierced fretwork cornice is of the same pattern as the 'Gothick frets' illustrated in Thomas Chippendale, op.cit., 1754, plate CLVI and 1763, plate CXCVI.

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