CIRCA 1820

Details

A REGENCY IVORY-INLAID KINGWOOD OPEN BOOKCASE
CIRCA 1820
The stepped cornice above panelled uprights with three adjustable leather-lined shelves, on plinth base and square tapering block feet, one shelf later and without leather
61½ in. (153.5 cm.) high; 44¼ in. (113 cm.) wide; 23 in. (58.5 cm.) deep

Provenance

Anonymous sale, Christie's London, 1 April 1993, lot 68.

Special notice

Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.

Brought to you by

Victoria von Westenholz

vvonwestenholz@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2085

Lot Essay

This sophisticated bookcase belongs to a small group of highly refined furniture of an almost Anglo-Indian character made in ivory on kingwood and undoubtedly executed in the same workshop. Its stylistic origins are difficult to determine but the decoration obviously relates to contemporary French-style brass-inlaid furniture - although it seems likely that the designers were also aware of antiquarian sensibilities, such as the suite of ebony and ivory furniture supplied to the Gothic Library at Stowe, probably to designs by Sir John Soane (F. Collard, Regency Furniture, Woodbridge, 1985, p. 164).

A pair of card tables from this group and no doubt executed in the same workshop was sold anonymously in these Rooms, 9 April 1992, lot 104.

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