George II Palladian mahogany breakfront bookcase, 18th century
The broken swan's-neck pediment with gadroon- and dentil-carved bands terminating in a foliate roundel, above a like-carved frieze over two central doors, each inset with a shaped mirrored panel, flanked to either side by a single door, featuring a finely carved floral festoon, centered by fluted Corinthian pilasters, opening to a shelved interior, the lower section fitted with a drop-front secretary drawer opening to an inset leather writing surface and a variety of drawers and cubbyholes, flanked to either side by two small drawers, over two paneled cupboard doors, the side sections each fitted with four graduated drawers, raised on a plinth base.
This design is similar to those found in William Salmon's, "Palladio Londinensis."
Reference this exact piece in "The Antiques Directory Furniture," General Editors, Judith and Martin Miller, Portland House, New York, 1985, page 118 Breakfront (C Price Classification: "An Early George III mahogany breakfront secretaire bookcase, with shaped bevelled glazed cupboard doors, flanked by outer doors carved with Corinthian pilasters, lower section with secretaire drawer")
Provenance: Williams Antiques...
Category
Mid-18th Century Georgian Antique Irish Secretaires