Chippendale Period Mahogany Secretaire Breakfront Bookcase

No: 11166 An important Chippendale Period Mahogany Secretaire Breakfront Bookcase. The cornice has an ogee-shaped moulding above a dentil frieze and a concave moulding over four thirteen-pane astragal glazed doors. The centre cupboard has a central divide allowing shelves either side of it to be differently adjusted. Each door encloses 4  adjustable shelves, the base with a central secretaire and cupboards opening to reveal sliding trays. They are flanked by 5 graduated drawers on each side. The whole is raised on a plinth base. Circa 1765 Price: £29,500-00p. Note: The quality of the mahogany in both its figuring and grain is exceptional and the workmanship throughout is quite extraordinary. The 13-pane astragal glazing to the upper section doors is taken directly from Chippendale’s “The Gentleman & Cabinet-Maker’s Director”, 3rd. edition, Plate XCI dating from 1753 and the layout of a central base cupboard flanked by  drawers is seen in Plate XC,Height: 103.5” (8.6 feet), 263 cms / Width: 97.25” (8.1 feet), 247 cms /  Depth: 23.25”, 59 cmsLit: For identical handles see “Dumfries House A Chippendale Commission” Vol II Page 123, Lot 251, Christie’s.Christopher Gilbert “The Life & Work of Thomas Chippendale”,Vol I, Colour illustration 16 “Two drawer fronts, 1766 and 1771 mounted with one of Chippendale’s favourite “wrought brass” handle patterns, Nostell Priory.Vol II, Page 134 figs 239 & 240.Also Page 146, Fig 263