Outstanding Early 18c English George I Secretary

Details

Description

PRESENTING a STUNNINGLY GORGEOUS and OUTSTANDING Early 18C English George I Secretary.

This is one of the FINEST old English … Read more PRESENTING a STUNNINGLY GORGEOUS and OUTSTANDING Early 18C English George I Secretary.

This is one of the FINEST old English Secretary’s we have ever had !

Made circa 1720 in England and made from the finest burl walnut and flamed mahogany.

It is a TOTALLY ORIGINAL PERIOD PIECE !

It retains it’s original brasses and hardware, what looks like it’s original leather desk insert and it’s original mirrors to the front.

The drop down desk front opens to reveal 8 drawers and 4 cubbies with a central tabernacle with hidden drawer pillars on either side.

It is the central tabernacle door that intrigues the most !
It is inlayed with marquetry of walnut, mahogany, rosewood and satinwood to create a scene of a corridor with parquet or tiled flooring leading down a hallway to another arched door. The marquetry is done in a 3D or tunnel effect giving the illusion of peering down the hall way to the doorway at the end of the tunnel !

AMAZINGLY this is replicated on the doorway to the kneehole base !!!!!

The base section sits on 6 padded and fluted feet. It has 2 pull out supports on either side to support the drop down desktop.

Beneath that it has one large central drawer and 6 smaller drawers (3 on each pillar),

The kneehole section is recessed and has another inlayed door which opens by lock to reveal 2 shelves.

The dimensions of the kneehole are 23 inches tall, 11.2 inches wide and 5.25 inches deep. It also haas an arched molding to the front.

The Top Section is removeable and has 2 curved doors with curved pediments or crowns. The doors open to reveal 3 shelves.

The secondary woods on this piece are oak, as one would expect from an English period piece and likewise the dovetailing detail is exactly as expected.

The interior of the top section was painted green as some point in the 20th Century but this does not in any way detract from its originality, authenticity or value !! See less