This bookcase has many of the hallmarks of the firm of George Oakley, particularly in what is usually assumed to be their largest commission, Papworth Hall, Cambridgeshire, built for John Madryll Cheere in 1809.
Most characteristic are the bands of inlaid palmleaf in the flanking pilasters. These, and their arched anthemia-inlaid tops, appear on a large library bookcase from Papworth that was sold by the late Major Derek Parker-Bowles, in these Rooms, 1 December 1977, lot 150. The straight frieze band of stars is inlaid around the tops of both a set of quartetto tables (sold anonymously, in these Rooms, 9 April 1992, lot 109) and a games table recognisably from the same suite (offered anonymously, Phillips London, 11 February 1992, lot 83)
It remains very difficult to identify which of the surviving pieces in Oakley's Papworth style came from the house itself. The bookcase sold in 1977 was mahogany and inlaid with ebonised lines. Its provenance was impeccable as was that on the set of quartetto tables which were made of calamander. It is clear that furnituremade in several woods was supplied to the house but there is not enough evidence to suggest that this ebony bookcase came from there.