CIRCA 1760, THE SUPERSTRUCTURE REPLACED

This elegant secretaire relates to cabinets of the same form by Thomas Chippendale (d.1779). In 1764, Chippendale supplied two secretaires to Sir Lawrence Dundas, Bt. (d. 1781), each surmounted by a lattice-work bookshelf: one was sold from the Dundas collection, Christie's, London, 26 April 1934, lot 112 (bought by Malletts). The other is at Aske Hall, Yorkshire, now lacking its upper section, described as 'a fine open Bookshelf on top' (C. Gilbert, The Life and Work of Thomas Chippendale, London, 1978, vol. II, fig. 94 and vol. I, p. 159). A very similar cabinet, formerly at Hornby Castle, Yorkshire, is illustrated in R. Edwards, P. Macquoid, The Dictionary of English Furniture, rev. edn., 1954, vol. I, p. 152, fig. 60; another from the Thursby-Pelham Collection is illustrated in O. Brackett, English Furniture Illustrated, rev. edn., 1950, pl. CLXXV.