CIRCA 1790, PROBABLY BY SHERATON

This elegant and unusual dressing-table is almost certainly by Sheraton, who produced sophisticated designs for ladies' writing and dressing-tables. Similar designs can be found in Sheraton's Cabinet Maker, Upholsterer and General Artist's Encyclopaedia, 1805, under 'Ladies Writing and Dressing Table', published 20 September 1804 and pl. 20, 'A Ladys Dressing Commode', published 24 July 1793. Further related designs are illustrated in R. Fastnedge, Sheraton Furniture, London, 1962, pls. 57b, 89 and 91.

A virtually identical dressing-table, differing only in the feet, is illustrated in the Grosvenor House Antique Dealer's Fair and Exhibition Catalogue, London, 1964 (p. 56, fig. 1; with H.W. Keil Ltd., London).