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A Georgian style mahogany secretaire chest of drawers constructed with figured mahogany veneers. The rectangular case features a slightly overhanging top above three graduated long drawers and a deep top drawer. This top drawer is designed with a fall-front mechanism supported by internal brass quadrants, which opens to reveal a fitted secretaire interior. The interior contains a central arrangement of pigeonholes over two small drawers, flanked by two banks of three small drawers, each fitted with small turned bone or ivory-coloured knobs. The writing surface is inset with a green leather skiver featuring blind and gilt-tooled borders. The drawer fronts are decorated with inlaid boxwood stringing and fitted with turned mahogany knobs. Secondary timbers include oak for the drawer linings, which are joined with hand-cut dovetails and reinforced with central muntin strips to the undersides. The piece is supported on bracket feet. This lot comprises the chest of drawers only; the vacuum cleaner and other background items shown in the images are not included.
Condition report:
The chest appears structurally sound but displays several condition issues consistent with age. There is a prominent horizontal shrinkage crack running through the mahogany panel on the right-hand side (photo 6, photo 10). The top surface shows scattered scratches, scuffs, and small indentations (photo 5). On the front, there are minor chips and small areas of professional-style filler along the edges of the drawer dividers and the base; a small section of cockbeading is damaged on the secretaire drawer near the hinge (photo 3). The interior leather writing surface shows significant wear, staining, and some lifting or bubbling (photo 4, photo 7). An ink stain is visible in the base of the second pigeonhole from the right (photo 4). The drawer interiors show typical darkening and light staining from use (photo 8, photo 9).
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