19th Century English Regency Mahogany Secretaire Bookcase

Grand Scale 19th Century English Regency Mahogany and Brass Inlaid Secretaire Cabinet or Bookcase. This excellent piece of furniture has a great design of superb quality. Inspired from Thomas Sheraton's Encyclopaedia, published between 1804 and 1806, but with refinements made by the maker. At the top, there is a scrolling pediment with a central tablet, inlaid with brass stringing. There is further brass stringing on the frieze below and then a series of brass inlaid astragal glazing bars, an exceptional sign of quality, in a diamond pattern to the doors which reveal adjustable shelves on the inside. There is further inlaid brass work on the tapering pilasters to the sides of the upper and lower sections, with Egyptian mask mounts in patinated bronze. There is a secretaire drawer with lion mask handles and further brass inlay creating a panelled effect. The two cupboard doors also have brass panelling in the same manner. Concealed behind the fall (disguised as two drawers) is an arrangement of pigeon holes and small drawers. There is a tooled leather writing surface. The lower cupboard doors conceal an arrangement of long drawers. The inside of the secretaire section is beautifully designed, the highly figured partridge wood used for the small drawer fronts. An exceptional quality English cabinet.