19th C. Continental Painted Slant-Front Secretary With Figural Scenes

Details

Description

Width: 38 inches
Height: 46 inches
Depth: 16 inches

A wonderfully characterful 19th-century Continental slant-front secretary, possibly Northern European, retaining … Read more Width: 38 inches
Height: 46 inches
Depth: 16 inches

A wonderfully characterful 19th-century Continental slant-front secretary, possibly Northern European, retaining a richly aged hand-painted surface in deep brick red with black, ochre, blue and muted green decoration. The hinged fall-front is centered by a pastoral figural scene and opens to reveal a fitted writing interior with three small drawers and open storage. Below, a pair of paneled cabinet doors opens to fixed shelving, their fronts painted with atmospheric landscape and figural reserves depicting scenes associated with the biblical story of Moses, framed by stylized flowers, scrolling vines and linear borders. Additional floral and foliate decoration continues across the façade, sides and upper surface, giving the piece an unusually expressive folk-art quality. The simple rectilinear case, dark contrasting moldings and block feet provide a restrained architectural framework for the exuberant painted decoration. Age-related wear, losses, craquelure and variation to the painted surface contribute to its wonderfully timeworn character and are consistent with its 19th-century age. See less