AN EARLY GEORGE III MAHOGANY BUREAU IN THE MANNER OF THOMAS CHIPPENDALE PROBABLY NORTH COUNTRY

AN EARLY GEORGE III MAHOGANY BUREAU IN THE MANNER OF THOMAS CHIPPENDALE

PROBABLY NORTH COUNTRY, c.1760-70

with well-figured flame veneers, the hinged fall revealing an arrangement of nine drawers, one fitted for pens and ink, with six pigeonholes and with a later lined green leather writing surface, above four long graduated drawers, the top one unusually flanked by lopers, on later bracket feet

107.2cm high, 118.2cm wide, 61.8cm deep

CATALOGUE NOTE

The present lot has some attributes that could tentatively point to the manner of Thomas Chippendale. The use of an unusual cut of mahogany is a strong feature. The layout of the interior which is very typical and use of a pen and ink drawer which is very similar to one that can be found in Sabine Winns' 'secretary' supplied for the Winns' London house at 11 St. James's Square. The most unusual feature of this bureau is the arrangement of the top drawer with lopers which sit flush side by side with no vertical rail to keep them in position. This design can be seen in a 'desk (bureau) and bookcase' in the 1762 Director. This might be a feature that offered a slight cost saving or it could be a provincial design used by someone working in tandem with Chippendale.