MID-18TH CENTURY, INCORPORATING 17TH CENTURY INDIAN MARQUETRY

Details

A GEORGE II IVORY AND BONE-INLAID ROSEWOOD AND PADOUK BUREAU-CABINET
MID-18TH CENTURY, INCORPORATING 17TH CENTURY INDIAN MARQUETRY
The rectangular moulded later cornice above a pair of mirrored doors bordered by scrolling foliage enclosing four adjustable shelves above a pair of candle-slides, the bureau section with a flap inlaid with a panel of flowers bordered by foliage, enclosing a fitted interior of pigeon-holes and pewter and German mother-of-pearl inlaid hardwood-lined drawers around a central sadeli mosaic-inlaid door enclosing a mirrored interior and flanked by gilt-embossed leather book-spines, one printed 'PARADISE LOST' the other 'PARADISE REGAIN'D', the flap inlaid with a maroon baize writing-surface and a star and lozenge border on a tortoishell ground, above four graduated hardwood-lined drawers inlaid with scrolling foliage, the sides chevron-banded and in padouk, on bracket feet, the lopers, plates and one shelf later
86 in. (218.5 cm.) high; 45½ in. (115.5 cm.) wide; 24¼ in. (61.5 cm.) deep

Provenance

Bought by the vendor's family in the early 1950s.

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

This magnificent antiquarian bureau-cabinet was made in England, perhaps in emulation of a very small group of bureau-cabinets made in India for English patrons using Indian marquetry, such as one sold Christie's, London, 18 November 1993, lot 195. The antiquarian combination of marquetry on the present cabinet is even more exotic, with Indian marquetry on the outside and European metal-inlaid marquetry on the inside, the latter possibly from a games-board. The inspiration for all bureau-cabinets of this type, whether made in India or England, is likely to be the English chinoiserie-japanned cabinets of the early 18th century. Later Anglo-Indian furniture used veneers of engraved ivory but at this stage inlay prevailed.

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